Pectolite
stock #18.1-390
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos
Québec,
Canada
2.4 x 1 x .7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $220
Late Summer 2018
Probably the worlds best and largest Pectolite crystals came from the Jeffrey mine years ago. These were often slender, flat blades or needles often in spectacular sprays and groups. Sharp euhedral prisms like these were much more rare. This one is just large, doubly terminated crystals that have crisp sharp edges, glassy faces, is translucent to transparent. Perfect, undamaged glassy prisms in a nice arrangement, no place else on the planet has ever formed Pectolites like this. These have the characteristic one sided chisel termination and a hint of green. A choice thumbnail of a mineral not often considered for fine crystals.
Extraordinary mint-green acicular needle crystals form a sparkling mass on green and colorless Grossular crystals. This is the only example we have seen of green Pectolite from Jeffrey, or from anyplace for that matter. A few tiny Diopsides are also seen with magnification. Very bright and attractive. Some of he Pectolite needles are the typical white color close to the terminations but green near the base. Displays well from several angles, really different and special from the great Jeffrey mine.
Pectolite is not usually an attractive mineral and good prismatic crystals are quite rare. This is a strong exception to that rule. More than 25 years ago a series of pockets at the Jeffrey Mine produced some of the most perfect and esthetic specimens of this usually drab mineral. Several crystals are transparent and all others are translucent. A perfect undamaged floater there is no matrix or point of attachment. Outstanding for the specie, choice, very large and rarely available now.
An unusual and attractive combo, bright yellowish-green crystals of Vesuvianite are scattered on a branching crystals that were previously identified as Pectolite but now seen to be at least in part Aragonite or similar Carbonate. We have just sent off a sample for analysis to confirm. Both the Vesuvianite and the Pectolite/ Aragonite are in excellent condition- no damage can be found even with 40X magnification, which is incredible for such delicate minerals. The Vesuvianites are perched so that it is easy to see they are doubly terminated.
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