CARNOTITE
Specimen car-6
$ 48.00Dims: 2.8 x 2.8 x 0.7" (7.1 x 7.1 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 3.51 oz. (99.6 g)
near Goulding's Well, Navajo County, Arizona, U.S.A.
At least 20 tiny Carnotite nodules rest on the rusty, chalky host rock of this specimen. According to the enclosed documentation, these were "crystals". I did not believe this until I examined the specimen with a 10-power loupe. The nodules are actually clusters of intergrown, radiating Carnotite blades that do not exceed 1 or 2 mm in diameter. Some of the clusters are broken, but most are undamaged. Their monoclinic bladed form is moderately good, as most of the crystals appear to be rounded. However, higher magnification may reveal examples of better crystal form. Most have dull yellow coloration that is slightly rust-stained, but the damaged clusters are denoted by a brighter yellow color. They are generally dull in luster and are only dimly translucent even at their small size. The host rock appears to consist of a finely-grained sandstone or rough shale, and shows heavy rust-staining.