CHURCHITE
Specimen chu-3

Dims: 1.8 x 1.4 x 1.1" (4.6 x 3.6 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 1.9 oz. (55 g)

Kelly Bank Mine, Rockbridge County, Virginia, U.S.A.

At least 20 tiny, round Churchite sprays rest on the iron-bearing base of this small hand specimen. Each of these sprays is made up of many microscopic, radiating, acicular Churchite fibers that are far too fine to be studied with a loupe. From what study I can make, they are white in color and have a silky to pearly luster. They may likely be translucent, or even transparent. A few of the sprays have been damaged or crushed, but most are in excellent condition. The base rock is streaked in black and brown and is quite dense; it may be part of a concretion.

Dims: 1.01x0.64x0.44" (2.56x1.62x1.11cm)

Wt: 0.16oz (4.4g)

Auerbach, Oberfalz, Germany

Multiple crystals of limonite are cemented together by sprays of churchite-(Y) crystals. Some of the churchite clusters are complete fuzzy balls, but mostly the surface looks more like a fuzzy crust. Many of the surfaces are actually the bases of the churchite crystals, where the host limonite has fallen away. Many of the clusters are broken open, revealing the radial structure of the crystal growth. Note that the churchite is white, and the individual acicular crystals appear translucent. Many of the clusters have a dusting of red-brown limonite.

Dims: 0.43x0.41x0.28" (1.10x1.04x0.72cm)

Wt: 3.3ct (0.66g)

Auerbach, Oberfalz, Germany

This is a crust of churchite-(Y) over a piece of limonite. The churchite is the usual white balls of tiny acicular crystals. Many of the balls are broken open, revealing their radial structure, and also showing that many of the needles have random lengths, lending a rather tossled appearance to the "hair". Much of the otherwise pure white of the churchite has been stained by a dusting of limonite.