ALLANITE
Specimen all-4
$ 65.00Dims: 1.2 x 1.1 x 0.8" (3.0 x 2.8 x 2.0 cm)
Wt: 1.10 oz. (31.1 g) w/ specimen box
Lincoln County, New Mexico, U.S.A.
This thumbnail specimen consists of a crystalline quartz base on which rest a few Allanite crystals. Most of these crystals are broken and mostly incomplete, but one in particular is intact, in excellent condition and is very exposed. It has dimensions of approximately 0.3 x 0.1" (8 x 3 mm), and is 1 mm thick. It has a monoclinic, pseudotetragonal bladed form that is nearly identical in appearance to that of wulfenite- all edges are sharp and all faces are clean. It has the standard black color of Allanite and shows a rather dull, pearly-to-waxy luster. The base on which it rests is mostly broken, but a few small quartz crystals are intact. Two of these are adjacent to the Allanite blade. They are well-formed, colorless, and transparent, though slightly rust-stained. The piece is hot-glued to a foam base that fits in the bottom of a plastic specimen box.