THE MINERAL KULANITE

Dims: 2-1/8" x 1-1/4" x 3/4"

Wt: 27.2 g

Rapid Creek, Yukon Terr., Canada

There are several Kulanite crystals residing on the edge of the host rock in this specimen. The largest measures 1/4 inch in diameter and all are in the form of flattened prisms. The color initially looks black, but small fractured areas indicate a very dark, blue-green highlight. Thus, there is some damage to the crystals that is visible on one side of the specimen. The host rock is partially coated with a crust of small, gray-brown crystals of siderite. I do believe this is a rather rare item.

Dims: 1.6" x 1.4" x 0.8"(4.1 x 3.6 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 23.4 g

Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada

Though I classified this particular specimen under "Kulanite", it was not an easy decision. There are dozens of the black, bladed crystals, including one extremely large(0.4 x 0.3" or 1.0 x 0.8 cm) "crystal" made up of intergrown blades. All are opaque and have a bright, vitreous luster that makes them sparkle. They are surrounded by a large number of siderite crystals that have extraordinary size and form. These crystals range from less than 1 x 1 mm to 10 x 6 mm in respective length and diameter, and occur in a trigonal prismatic form akin to the scalenohedral "dogtooth", but have flat, triangular basal terminations. The smaller ones are a pale brown in color that deepens as the crystals' size increases, and are transparent to translucent, which is also respective to size. There is no host rock to speak of, and the specimen is hot-glued to an acrylic base for display.

Dims: 2.5" x 1.5" x 0.7"(6.4 x 3.8 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 1.48 oz.(42.0 g)

Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada

Though there are many good, black bladed crystals of Kulanite on this specimen, they are not the only constituents worthy of mention. The Kulanites have a bright, vitreous luster, range from 0.1 - 0.3"(3 - 8 mm) in width, and are opaque. Along with these rather rare crystals are many trigonal prisms of siderite, which is commonly associated with Kulanite from this locality. These crystals range from a dull gold to brown in color and grow at a rather low angle out of the specimen. They have a pearly luster, are translucent to dimly transparent, and range in size from 0.1 - 0.3"(3 - 8 mm). On the opposite side of the specimen rest several small wardite crystals amidst the tiny siderites and sparse Kulanites. They are in the form of slightly warped octahedral crystals, are colorless, transparent, and have reasonable clarity that is interrupted by internal inclusions and the heavy striations that are common for this mineral. This specimen's original documentation said nothing about wardite, so I was quite pleased to make this discovery.