• Detail of two intersecting hydroxyapophyllite crystals with spots of brown lizardite following the angular faces. The crystals are of a shiny calcite druzy
  • A mineral specimen with a half dozen square tabular hydroxyapophyllite crystals, nearly entirely coated with a brown mineral. They are on a rough matrix sprinkled also largely covered by the brown mineral.
  • Detail of the square tablet crystals completely opaque and covered with matte lizardite. There is a a cluster of stacked scalenohedral calcite crystals on the left side, mostly covered in the brown mineral.
  • The full back of the specimen, covered with calcite druzy and with several well-formed hydroxyapophyllite crystals on the top. There is a dark cave-like indentation at the center.
  • The back of the mineral specimen, covered in glittering tan-colored caclite druzy, with a dusting of lizardite like cinnamon on it. At the top is a well-formed square tablet of hydroxyapophyllite.
  • The specimen in indirect sunlight, with the coating of brown lizardite matte.
  • The piece held between thumb and finger for scale, showing the back covered in glittering druzy formed in almost squiggly lines like pasta.
  • Another angle of the back of the specimen, showing the glittery calcite druzy dusted with lizardite
  • Scale image of the piece on a measuring mat, measuring about two and a half inches long by almost two inches at the widest.
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Hydroxyapophyllite with two large intersecting crystals

Hydroxyapophyllite with two large intersecting crystals

$50.00 USD
$50.00 USD
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Locale: N'Chwaning II Mine, South Africa

Approx dimensions: 2.5 x 1.75 x 1"

Approx weight: 71g

 

This specimen features hydroxyapophyllite crystals with lizardite and calcite on matrix. Properly called "hydroxyapophyllite-(K)," hydroxyapophyllite is a variety of apophyllite that is typically colorless. It more frequently grows cubic crystals, but these specimens from the renowned N'Chwaning Mines region form tabular square crystals similar to wulfenite, and can be colorless to semi-translucent white with inclusions.

This piece has several large hydroxyapophyllite crystals, including two that are intersecting (the larger is 1cm). The matte brown mineral coating the specimen is lizardite, which often grows in small spots along the junctions of the hydroxyapophyllite crystal. Calcite druzy glitters through the lizardite and covers the back of the specimen. The calcite has also formed clusters of small scalenohedral crystals. The dark matrix is likely manganese-based; the N'Chwaning mines were established to extract the rich manganese ore in the area.

UV reactivity Visible calcite fluoresces and phosphoresces moderate red under 365 nm UV light. It can cause the hydroxyapophyllite crystals growing over it to glow a faint red—try it in a dark room with a strong flashlight. An unknown whitish mineral finely dusts areas of the specimen strongly fluoresces icy blue.

** Brittle warning! Hydroxyapophyllite specimens are somewhat delicate and may shed pieces; limit handling.

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