SYLVITE
Specimen syv-2

Dims: 2.81" x 2.31" x 1.5"(7.1 x 5.9 x 3.8 cm)

Wt: 3.38 oz.(96.0 g)

Niland, Salton Sea, Imperial County, California, U.S.A.

I have been told that the color of this cluster of Sylvite crystals is actually caused by hematite inclusions. The cluster has crystals that range in size from 3/8"(9 mm) to 3/4"(1.9 cm) along an edge. These crystals occur in three habits: cubes, octahedrons, and octahedrons that are truncated with cubic faces replacing their points. There are also a variety of crystals that are warped beyond recognition, and some massive Sylvite. There is no host rock, but it was stored for a short period of time on an eiderdown-like substance in moist air, because some of these fibers are stuck to its underside. The crystals have a greasy luster to them and are partially transparent, with considerable cloudiness.

Dims: 2.75" x 2.25" x 1.75"(7.0 x 5.7 x 4.4 cm)

Wt: 3.02 oz.(85.6 g)

Niland, Salton Sea, Imperial County, California, U.S.A.

The dominating habit of this cluster is one that resembles pebbly formations of snow with an orange color. There are some cubic crystals present on one edge of the piece; these measure a maximum of 1/2"(1.3 cm) along an edge and show considerable clarity. They have a pearly luster and look almost as if they have been oiled. It does have considerable damage that is confined to one area on the specimen that doesn't have crystalline tendencies. It is a pretty specimen.

Dims: 1.8 x 1.4 x 1.2" (4.6 x 3.6 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 1.4 oz. (39.2 g)

Carlsbad Potash District, Eddy County, New Mexico, U.S.A.

This small hand specimen consists of a heavily broken cluster of intersecting Sylvite cubes. The specimen is obviously a piece out of a larger semicrystalline mass, and though there are no complete crystals present, there are many definable edges and a few clean faces that possess a bright vitreous luster. The specimen is generally translucent, but there are areas of transparence and impressive clarity. Studying one of these shows that the Sylvite is generally colorless, but is heavily included with a brick-red substance that is probably hematite or limonite; this inclusion gives the specimen its generally rusty-red color.