WHITLOCKITE
Specimen wht-4

Dims: 1.5x1.5x0.9" (3.9x3.7x2.3 cm)

Wt: 1.0 oz. (27.5g)

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

This large thumbnail specimen boasts several sizeable (1cm) whitlockite crystals. They are translucent (transparent in some small areas) due to uncountable internal fractures. The largest crystals also clearly show the flattened tabular rhombohedral habit characteristic of this mineral. These crystals rest upon a base of blue radiating acicular crystals (brown in places) that looks like indicolite, but it does not have a tourmaline hardness. I suspect it is one of the many blue phosphates found in this region, such as gormanite, plancheite, ajoite, or even lazulite. Most of the whitlockite crystals are damaged, although it is minor on the largest ones.

Dims: 0.9x0.4x0.7" (2.3x1.0x1.7 cm)

Wt: 0.1 oz. (2.0)

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

This thumbnail features a single large well-formed but incomplete (one end is missing) whitlockite crystal. It rests on a crust of a blue-green acicular mineral, which also is visible as a radiating inclusion in the whitlockite. The whitlockite is translucent, yet clear enough to examine the blue-green needles.

Dims: 2.6x1.4x0.7" (6.7x3.6x1.7 cm)

Wt: 1.5 oz. (41.5g)

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

The translucent white crystals that are scattered over this specimen, as well as numerous smaller transparent blades providing sparkle, are all whitlockite. While small, they are generally in excellent condition. In addition, this specimen is a treasure trove of other (probably rare) minerals. There is a light blue crust, tiny black rossettes whose individual blades are actually transparent green, some parallel sheafs of transparent crystals tipped with black, and a very tiny spray of green acicular crystals, invisible without magnification.

Dims: 2.5x0.9x0.4" (6.4x2.4x1.1 cm)

Wt: 0.7 oz. (18.7g)

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

All of the milky crystals and some of the clear ones on this specimen are whitlockite. They are in fair condition, and most of the larger ones have inclusions consisting of sprays of green acicular crystals. There are also black rosettes whose individual leaves are transparent and green. There also appears to be a single prismatic quartz crystal. These all reside on a crust of a light blue mineral.