Albite

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A grouping of mostly transparent semi lustrous employee albite crystals. The largest crystals measure to 2.5 cm in size and are freestanding. In good condition. Nice for this old classic locality. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.The geology of Amelia County, Virginia, features complex granite-hosted pegmatite dikes that intruded into the surrounding regional metamorphic rocks like gneiss and schist during the late Paleozoic era. These coarse-grained zoned pegmatites became famous for yielding large crystal specimens of rare minerals, industrial materials, and gemstones. Mining history in the area dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighted by operations at famous sites like the Morefield Mine and Rutherford Mines. Initially opened for industrial commodities such as mica, feldspar, and strategic elements, these historic mines transitioned over time into renowned commercial and recreational collecting localities prized by rockhounds worldwide.