CRISTOBALITE
Specimen crb-4
$ 45.00Dims: 4.0x2.9x1.9" (10.3x7.5x4.8cm)
Wt: 9.8 oz. (278g)
Siskiyou, California, USA
This is an excellent specimen of cristobalite, as two large (and two small) radial clusters in an obsidian host rock. The contrast is excellent. The cristobalite shows a radial pattern but does not fill the cavities. Close examination (with a loupe) shows a peppering of some black mineral both in the cristobalite and on the surface, and there is another white mineral (likely another form of silicon oxide) on the exposed surfaces of the cavities. This second white mineral has a form of hands (with various numbers of fingers) of opaque white and rounded growths, mostly flat against the host. These clusters do sparkle like quartz, and may simply be quartz. In addition, there are several tiny and quite lovely very thin blades of some mineral (looks like wulfenite) on the surface.