JOAQUINITE
Specimen joa-3

Dims: 2.6 x 1.9 x 1.2" (6.5 x 4.8 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 3.0 oz. (86 g)

Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A.

This specimen consists of several tiny Joaquinite crystals that rest on a serpentine/natrolite base. The crystals generally do not exceed 1 mm in length or diameter and are difficult to study even under 10x magnification. They do appear to be in good condition, however, and appear to also have good monoclinic prismatic form, with a diamond-shaped cross-section. They have a moderate brown color and a pearly luster, and are accompanied by several shards of much larger, broken neptunite crystals.

Dims: 2.4 x 1.9 x 1.4" (6.2 x 4.7 x 3.7 cm)

Wt: 2.6 oz. (75 g)

Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A

Several tiny Joaquinite crystals rest on the decayed serpentine base of this hand specimen. These crystals do not exceed 0.1 (3 mm) and are in excellent condition, showing no appreciable damage. Their monoclinic prismatic form is difficult to study without magnification, but appears to be quite good. All have a mahogany-brown coloration and a greasy-to-pearly luster. They are accompanied by a few broken neptunite crystals and a small patch of massive natrolite.

Dims: 2.83x2.71x1.53in (7.19x6.90x3.89cm)

Wt: 6.46oz (183g)

M T Jeannes Pit #1, San Benito County, California, USA

This is not technically joaquinite, but rather Strontiojoaquinite (Hydrated Strontium Barium Sodium Iron Titanium Silicate Oxide Hydroxide), a very close relative, also monoclinic. It is the pale brown crust exposed over much of the host rock, and intermixed with quite a number of other minerals. There is no indication of crystal form in the dull, opaque mineral, except in a few tiny patches (mostly on the back) where a loupe reveals tiny transparent pale brown crystals.