Babingtonite on Prehnite

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

This interesting combination piece has calcite in association. A rock matrix has been covered by a layer of botryoidal, green prehnite upon which is emplaced tabular, lustrous, black babingtonite, in crystals reaching 2.8 cm in length. The matrix is unusual and chlorite-rich, so it is green. The sparkling micro-babingtonites add an unusual effect to the piece. The major crystal standing straight up is 2.5 cm tall from one side (showing 2 cm from the calcite-facing side). As an added touch, on the left side of the specimen are white crystals of calcite, to 1.0 cm in length. Luster on these crystals is high, and the faces are all sharp and un-etched or discolored as with some babingtonite from this locality. These remarkable specimens come out of a very small, previously insignificant quarry that, according to Mindat.org, is simply worked by the local farmers.