Babingtonite on Prehnite

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A solid, translucent and highly lustrous green prehnite plate is the host for a single starkly displayed crystal of tabular, lustrous black, babingtonite, measuring 2.9 cm in length. It is very equant and just sitting there perfect as can be, right in the middle of the translucent prehnite plate! The babingtonite is actually doubly-terminated, although one side ("top" to me) has better luster on the termination. The isolated, stark, central display is really striking and so I think this is a great specimen for the find and the species that stands out in its size class and does not break the bank. luster on the pristine and complete babingtonite crystal is high (except the bottom termination as it stands to my eye), and the faces are all sharp and un-etched or discolored as with some babingtonite from this locality. These remarkable specimens, where even the mid-range material is better than the best of species ever seen from anywhere else, come out of a very small, previously insignificant quarry that, according to Mindat.org, is simply worked by the local farmers. This is a fine small cabinet specimen that if it were from the old Lane Quarry would have set you back easily triple the price.