For enthusiasts of replacement minerals, be that pseudomorphs of epimorphs, this wonderful smaller cabinet-sized display specimen from the famous Fluorite deposit at El Hammam mine in Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Morocco, might be something new. Clearly an older specimen, this type of replacement appears to have gone largely undocumented and yet makes for a lovely presentation. Originally labelled as Quartz pseudomorphs after Baryte, their very obvious bladed form is a clue as to their original composition, but actually so too is the density of the specimen. Indeed, Baryte is still a major part of the matrix and a core of Baryte can also be seen inside these thin bladed crystals indicating that this is not a true pseudomorph, but an epimorph of finely crystallized Quartz coating thin bladed Baryte crystals. In some instances the Quartz coating is so thin that colour zonation in the encased Baryte crystal can still be seen. One of two to the bladed crystals are slightly chipped, but overall this is still a really fine presentation of this unusual epimorph from El Hammam. Ex Reverend Michael Keirle, Dean of Jersey.
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