Afghanite

A gorgeous specimen of beautifully crystallised Afghanite, a complex hydrous sodium, calcium, potassium, sulphate, chloride, carbonate alumino-silicate. Its chemical formula appears even more complicated than when written as above, if that is possible to imagine! This excellent miniature is from Robate Payan in the Koksha Valley of Badakhshan, Afghanistan and features as the main display crystal an elegant inky blue prism which has been carefully developed out by removing the surrounding matrix. The accompanying video shows this specimen in white LED light and ultraviolet light. Under UV light the Afghanite crystals fluoresce a bight and vivid apricot orange, similar to the colour of serandite!