PSEUDOBROOKITE
Specimen pse-1

Dims: 1.9" x 1.5" x 1.2"(4.8 x 3.8 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 1.68 oz.(47.9 g)

Topaz Mountain, Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah, U.S.A.

This rather simple specimen contains a small but undamaged spray of radiating Pseudobrookite needles. The spray has a diameter of about 0.3"(0.8 cm) and consists of 20 to 30 crystals that range in size from 0.1 - 0.4 cm. They have a dark gray color and a vitreous, almost submetallic luster, and are opaque. This cluster rests in a small hollow in the rhyolitic host rock, along with many small but complete topaz crystals. These topaz crystals do not exceed 3 mm in length, but are transparent and clear, with a vitreous luster and definite crystal form that is difficult to see because of their size and heavy intergrowth. It is one of the better examples of Pseudobrookite that I have seen- usually they consist of single needles that are smaller than these, and often broken.

Dims: 0.8" x 0.4" x 0.3" (2.0 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm) *Note: These dimensions do not include the display container

Wt: 1.68 oz.(47.9 g) (w/ container)

Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah, U.S.A.

This specimen simply consists of a cluster of about 10 monoclinic needlelike Pseudobrookite crystals. These crystals range in length from 0.1 - 0.8" (0.3 -2.0 cm) and are in generally good condition, though I believe that at least 3 of them are damaged and incomplete. The crystals have good form, nonetheless, and are easy to see when viewed against a pale background. They have the standard black color and what appears to be a submetallic-to-adamantine luster, and are, of course, opaque. The cluster was somehow removed from a piece of host rock and glued into a small hole that was drilled into the small face of a cork. The cork was then pushed into a small section of test tube that was shortened for the purpose. I have cleaned the glass tube, which was quite dirty, and replaced it over the specimen- the tube is rather old, and shows slight striations running down its sides that may interfere slightly with one's examination through it. These are the longest Pseudobrookite crystals that I have seen yet.