WELOGANITE
Specimen wel-1
$ 40.00Dims: 2.5" x 2.0" x 1.9" (6.4 x 5.1 x 4.8 cm)
Wt: 4.14 oz. (117.3 g)
Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
THis interesting little specimen consists of a host rock that is known as carbonatite. I believe that it is made up of a variety of carbonate minerals, both common and rare. Inside a hollow in this material rest several crystals of Weloganite, an uncommon complex carbonate of several different metals that occurs in crystal form at only one locality, a mine near Montreal, Canada, that is now closed. These crystals are in very good condition, though a few of them show signs of damage. They occur in a hexagonal prismatic form with basal terminations, and range in length from 2 or 3 mm to almost 1 cm. Their prism faces are heavily striated parallel to the basal plane. They have a gray-white color and a dull luster, and are dimly translucent. They are accompanied by what appear to be several gray-white calcite crystals with a dull luster. Their striations and rather uneven form remind me of that of some sapphire crystals.