Brucite

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Very fine Pennsylvania classic, a cluster of platy white crystals of brucite. The specimen comes with several antique labels courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania. In great condition. The Wood's chrome mine, located near Texas in Little Britain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a historic American mineral locality noted for producing brucite, zaratite, and kammererite specimens. Geologically, the deposit is situated within the State Line Serpentine Barrens, an alpine-type ultramafic body consisting of serpentinized peridotite that was obducted onto the North American continent during the Paleozoic Appalachian orogeny. Hydrothermal alteration of the ultramafic rock led to the concentration of podiform chromite ore bodies and the formation of fractures lined with unique secondary magnesium and chromium minerals. Commercial operations at the underground mine began in 1828 under the direction of Isaac Tyson Jr., expanding to become a leading global source of industrial chromium during the mid-nineteenth century. Primary industrial extraction ceased in 1881 when the main ore lode was exhausted.