XENOTIME
Specimen xen-3
$ 50.00Dims: 0.7 x 0.3 x 0.3" (1.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm)
Wt: 4.4 g
Ibiajara, Bahia, Brazil
This small thumbnail specimen consists of a single tetragonal prismatic Xenotime crystal. This crystal is in excellent condition, showing very little human-induced damage, and has a good but interrupted form, with edges that are mostly well-defined and faces that are generally clean and show a bright pearly luster. The termination, however, is not completely formed (see the close-up image), probably due to its intersection with a crystal that has since been removed. The Xenotime has the standard brown coloration with golden highlights and shows a dim translucence, especially around its edges. Close examination of the crystal's prism faces will show that there are fibrous needles of rutile trapped just under some of their surfaces. There is no host rock present on this specimen.