Epididymite

Unknown Owner

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This is a superb Epididymite thumbnail from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. This mineral is a rare hydrated sodium-beryllium silicate and the highest quality crystals in the world arguably originate from this locality. This stunning geometric miniature consists of two translucent white primary crystals that are each twinned and each resemble reticulated twinned Cerussite crystals! They are 1.8 cm tall each and and the set of reticulated twins are 1.7 cm wide and reflections off all of the faces makes one appreciate the complexity of these twins. The twinning is very evident on the backside as well. There is a smaller, sidecar set of twins to the left that are essentially an identical, but smaller set to the larger one. A few, lustrous, black Aegirine crystals cross at the bottom of the smaller set of twins and are accompanied by some micro Natrolite crystals along with an unidentified species. This is an excellent thumbnail for the species, perhaps world class for size. It came from a single small pocket of the 1990s, found by and sold by Gilles Haineault. I obtained it from him at that time, in the 1990s, and got it back only recently in a collection.