ELPIDITE
Specimen elp-1
$ 45.00Dims: 1.8 x 1.7 x 1.3" (4.6 x 4.3 x 3.2 cm)
Wt: 1.3 oz. (38 g)
Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Scores of individual Elpidite crystals and radiating Elpidite clusters intersect the white albite base of this hand specimen. These crystals reach lengths of about 1.2" (3.0 cm) and are generally in very good condition, as few of them show any obvious damage. Their orthorhombic form is a bit difficult to define, as individual crystals have a nearly fibrous, aggregated appearance, but is uniform throughout all of them. Their milky-white color is often dulled to a moderate gray, likely due to impurities, and all are translucent. A substantial amount of muscovite is embedded in the albite host, which is hot-glued to an acrylic base.