CAVANSITE
Specimen cav-38
$ 37.50Dims: 2.9 x 2.3 x 1.4" (7.3 x 5.7 x 3.6 cm)
Wt: 3.9 oz. (111 g)
Deccan Plateau, near Poona, Maharashtra State, India
At least 6 clusters of radiating Cavansite crystals rest on the basalt base of this hand specimen. These clusters do not exceed 0.4" (1.0 cm) in diameter and are generally in excellent condition, though one of the smaller clusters is obviously damaged. Each contains scores of tiny Cavansite blades, each of which are aggregated with a few others into small "sheaves". Though difficult to study even with a loupe, they likely have good orthorhombic prismatic form. They have a deep aqua-blue color and pearly luster, and though crystals are likely transparent, the clusters are essentially dimly translucent. They are surrounded by many stilbite blades, several of which are broken, that reach lengths of 0.4" (1.0 cm) and have good form. All of these rest on a bed of countless other stilbite blades that do not exceed 2 or 3 mm in length.