Microlite

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Crystals of Microlite on a feldspar matrix. Classic material for this locality.The Rutherford Mine, located near Amelia Courthouse in Amelia County, Virginia, is one of the most famous pegmatite localities in the United States. Geologically, the deposit consists of complex granitic pegmatite dikes emplaced within regional metamorphic rocks, featuring highly differentiated zones and volatile-rich pockets that fostered the crystallization of rare and exotic minerals. Historically, commercial mining at the site began in 1873 for muscovite mica, and later operations in the early 20th century famously extracted large quantities of high-grade amazonite and feldspar, alongside numerous rare-element minerals that have made the locality a legendary site for mineral collectors and museums worldwide.