GOSHENITE
Specimen gos-1

Dims: 2.2" x 1.7" x 1.1"(5.6 x 4.3 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 2.53 oz.(71.6 g)

Cayana, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Even though I have seen very few Goshenites in my time, I doubt I'll see another one like this! It has crystal form, but it is the most warped and complex crystal form that I think I have ever seen in any mineral. There are a few edges along one side of the specimen that denote some type of a hexagonal tendency, but nothing approaching the standard hexagonal prismatic form. The piece is covered with hundreds of small indentations in the shape of inverted hexagonal pyramids, as if the goshenite were "poured" as a liquid onto a tight quartz cluster, and then removed after it hardened. These indentations cover both of the main faces of the specimen. There are two areas of noticeable damage on the piece, both of which display small impact scars and adjacent, conchoidal fracturing. The specimen is coloress, of course, has a vitreous luster, and is transparent and quite clear, although the complexity of its form makes this difficult to determine. I like odd specimens, and I really like this one!

Dims: 2.7" x 2.0" x 1.5" (6.9 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm)

Wt: 3.23 oz. (91.6 g)

Huya Mine, Sichuan Province, China

At least 10 hexagonal Goshenite crystals rest on the muscovite-laden host rock of this specimen. Oddly, their form is more tabular than prismatic, as they are wider than they are long. They all have very good form and hexagonal outlines that are warped only where they intersect with the micaceous host. Their exposed edges are well-defined and their faces are flat and smooth, with a bright, vitreous luster. Each crystal is colorless, transparent, and very clear, though muscovite inclusions and internal fractures do interfere in some areas of each crystal. They range in size from 0.2 to nearly 1" (0.5 - 2.2+ cm) in diameter. There are two small clusters of tiny black crystals accompanying the Goshenites- I cannot identify them. Though they show heavy damage and none of the crystals appear to be complete, they seem to have a tetragonal pyramidal or an octagonal shape.

Dims: 0.8" x 0.8" x 0.6" (2.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm)

Wt: 8.3 g

Kunar Valley, Afghanistan

This small thumbnail specimen consists of a single hexagonal Goshenite crystal. It is in excellent condition, showing almost no damage, and has a well-defined, almost tabular crystal form. Most of its edges are well-defined, but there are a few whose formation was spoiled due to some intersecting albite blades. Their faces are generally smooth, though one or two are pockmarked from intersecting albite or muscovite books that were since worn away. Both basal termination faces (yes, it is double-terminated) and all of the prism faces have a glassy, vitreous luster, and the secondary termination faces have a primarily matte luster. The crystal is colorless and transparent, though there is not very much clear material within; it has many small internal fractures, flaws, and inclusions. It is, however, a good crystalline example of beryl.

Dims: 1.0" x 0.8" x 0.7" (2.5 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 14.7 g

Kunar Valley, Afghanistan

This Goshenite crystal shows obvious damage upon first glance, but closer examination will show that this damage occured before the crysal was mined, and that some slight partial healing has taken place. It has a hexagonal prismatic crystal form with an almost complete hexagonal outline, but two of its prism faces are almost completely removed. The other prism faces are generally in good condition, and like all of the visible secondary termination faces, have a frosted texture and a dull, waxy luster. Both basal termination faces are incomplete- one is almost nonexistent. However, these both show a bright, vitreous luster, and one can see completely into the crystal in the larger one. The crystal itself is colorless, transparent, and surprisingly clear, enough so that one could cut a good-quality stone of at least 2 or 3 carats out of it!

Dims: 3.1" x 2.6" x 2.3" (7.9 x 6.6 x 5.8 cm)

Wt: 12.1 oz. (344 g)

Stewart Mine, Pala, California, U.S.A.

This rather large hand specimen appears to contain only 2 or 3 small Goshenite crystals upon first glance. However, if one examines the piece closely, one can see that there are at least 8 such crystals intergrown with the tiny elbaites and lepidolite books. All are quite small, with only 2 crystals exceeding 0.3" (0.8 cm) in any dimension. All appear to be in excellent condition, though, and show no damage. They all show reasonably good hexagonal prismatic form, and have well-defined edges and smooth faces that show a luster that ranges from waxy to vitreous. All are colorless, transparent, and clear. They rest on a host rock that is made up almost entirely of the cleavelandite variety of albite.

Dims: 3.6" x 2.4" x 1.7" (9.1 x 6.1 x 4.3 cm)

Wt: 7.74 oz. (219.6 g)

Stewart Mine, Pala, California, U.S.A.

Only a few very small Goshenite crystals rest on the albite matrix of this specimen. The largest does not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in diameter, and has a hexagonal prismatic form that appears to be almost blocky. It has well-defined edges and clean faces; the prism and basal termination faces show a moderate vitreous luster, whereas the secondary termination faces all show a much duller, waxy luster. It is colorless, transparent, and very clear. All other crystals on the specimen are much smaller- they do not exceed 3 mm in diameter- and do not have as good a form. There are other minerals of interest on the albite base, though; several small, green elbaite crystals are visible, as well as many tiny lepidolite "books".

Dims: 6.1 x 6.1 x 1.9" (15.5 x 15.5 x 4.8 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 7.6 oz. (670 g)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

At least 20 Goshenite crystals are clustered together or scattered individually on the base of this large hand specimen. The largest of these crystals has a length of 1.0" (2.5 cm) and a diameter of about 0.8" (2.0 cm), whereas most of the others have dimensions that are half of those, or less. Oddly, the largest crystal (which is also the most exposed) is also in the best condition- most of the smaller ones are also intact, but many are damaged, and some are incomplete or very badly broken. Their hexagonal prismatic form is very warped, with rounded faces and curved edges- the only crystal that has a definite and complete hexagonal outline is the largest one. Others show the occasional flat face, but are very much incomplete. The side of the flat piece opposite of that containing the largest crystal has a mass of very warped, intergrown crystals that show no almost crystal form at all, and possess no crystal faces that are visible to the naked eye. However, one can see crystalline tendencies with magnification. All of these crystals are colorless, transparent, and where visible, quite clear. The base on which they rest is made up primarily of warped, crystalline albite and a substantial amount what appears to be actinolite, most of which has very good monoclinic prismatic form. Some of it, however, has separated into a fibrous habit.

Dims: 0.6 x 0.5 x 0.4" (1.5 x 1.3 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 2.9 g

Baha, southwest Buspar Peak, Baltistan, N.A., Pakistan

This little Goshenite crystal is in excellent condition, showing no visible human-induced damage. Likewise, its hexagonal prismatic form is excellent, with well-defined edges and generally clean prism faces that possess the standard vitreous luster. The basal termination face is heavily patterned and has a duller, pearly luster. The crystal is generally colorless and transparent, and is moderately clear- the upper half of its length is quite clear, but its lower half is very cloudy and only dimly clear or even translucent at its base. A small amount of albite is attached at the base of the crystal, but there is no other base or host rock present.

Dims: 1.10x1.10x0.39" (2.8x2.8x1.0cm)

Wt: 0.36oz (10.1g)

Resplendor, Minsa Gerais, Brazil

This beryl specimen is nearly colorless (hence it is goshenite). Its form is very good, a flat hexagonal plate, although only two sides are complete, two are partial, and two are missing. Intergrown with the goshenite are a number of translucent to transparent green elbaite tourmaline crystals - some of which are so dark as to appear black. These is also an inclusion of something yellow, as a smooth thin film with fading and distinct edges - I have no idea what it might be. The goshenite is quite transparent, although it does have some internal fractures that reflect a rainbow of colors.

Dims: 1.04x0.69x0.27" (2.65x1.76x0.68cm)

Wt: 12.5ct (2.50g)

Resplendor, Minas Gerais, Brazil

While small, this is a beautiful specimen of goshenite, the colorless crystalline variety of beryl. It consists of multiple distorted hexagonal flat crystals stacked into a book. I can discern at least 8 distinct crystals, although two of them dominate. The goshenite crystals are very transparent, and completely colorless, and have a vitreous luster. There are also at least three long thin crystals of dark green elbaite tourmaline, the largest of which extends 1cm beyond the host goshenite.