Xonotlite with Inesite

$2,450.00

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3,423 for sale·790 sold

This is an excellent and rare secondary mineral combination piece from the Kalahari Manganese Field, made up of whitish Xonotlite and contrasting pink to reddish orange Inesite in two different growths. Xonotlite is a rare calcium silicate and Inesite is an uncommon calcium-iron-manganese silicate and KMF has produced the best-of-species for the former and excellent specimens of the latter. This exceptional small cabinet piece displays abundant, and relatively large, 0.5 to 2 cm, tufts of off-white, tightly grouped, hair-like crystals of Xonotlite clustered in two main areas on the piece and are superimposed (paragenetically) meaning it came later, upon the Inesite. On sheared surfaces the radial divergent nature and white interior color of the Xonotlite is apparent. A minor calcite crystal is seen, as well. The Inesite occurs both as reddish divergent, bladed crystals and as secondary rounded clusters at the base that also reveal the radial divergent, pink interior. Great presentation and color contrast of this attractive piece of rare secondaries from the Kalahari Manganese Field. This would have come out in the early 1990s, from what we recall. Few combinations of red-white were found, and fewer still remain. NOTE: Xonotlite is soft, like a cotton ball. It needs to be handled gently but can be handled and shipped with care.