8.8" Stilbite, Apophyllite, Calcite and Quartz Association - India

This is an incredible 8.8" wide mineral association, containing stilbite, apophyllite, quartz druze and a beautiful, large calcite crystal. This was collected from Nashik in Maharashtra, India. The stilbite is translucent, with some faint pink coloration. Most of the apophyllite formed as double terminated crystals with brilliant luster and clarity. Quartz druze can be found surrounding all of the small stalactitic projections, and there is a massive, slightly yellow calcite crystal cluster in the center of the specimen. A truly wonderful specimen, perfect for any mineral collection.

Stilbite is probably the most common zeolite found in these deposits. Crystals often form flowery, bowtie or hourglass shaped structures and come in a variety of colors. Some of the most beautiful colorations are the pink or peach tints. Apophyllite while not a zeolite itself is almost always found associated with zeolites in the same pockets. It has two crystal habits, a rectangular prism capped by a steep four sided pyramid or a pseudo-cubic structure. While not a well known mineral to the general public it is popular among mineral collectors due to it's pastel colors and beautiful crystal formations.

Calcite, CaCO3, is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, and prisms. Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three directions parallel to the rhombohedron form.

Quartz is the name given to silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust. Quartz crystals generally grow in silica-rich environments--usually igneous rocks or hydrothermal environments like geothermal waters--at temperatures between 100°C and 450°C, and usually under very high pressure. In either case, crystals will precipitate as temperatures cool, just as ice gradually forms when water freezes. Quartz veins are formed when open fissures are filled with hot water during the closing stages of mountain formation: these veins can be hundreds of millions of years old.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Stilbite, Apophyllite, Calcite & Quartz
LOCATION
Nashik, Maharashtra, India
SIZE
8.8" wide, 6" deep, 2.1" tall
CATEGORY
ITEM
#65718