KINOITE
Specimen kin-4

Dims: 4.2 x 3.6 x 1.5" (10.7 x 9.1 x 3.8 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 1.2 oz. (486 g)

Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.

This moderately large hand specimen consists of a pale cream colored, rough host rock which is partly coated with 2 separate crusts of Kinoite. The Kinoite occurs in the form of very thin, massive crusts that show no evidence of crystal form. These crusts have a color that ranges from nearly white to a moderately deep sky-blue, and are heavily encrusted with tiny calcite rhomboderons. Thus, it is nearly impossible to determine their natural luster. It is also extremely difficult to determine their level of transparence or opacity, as the crusts are extremely thin and do not extend beyond the surfaces of the host rock. There are several tiny smatterings of Kinoite scattered elswhere on the host, and with powerful magnification (at least 30x or more), one might be able to see their monoclinic form. The larger crust does show noticeable damage in the form of an impact scar near one edge.

Dims: 1.5 x 1.1 x 0.7" (3.8 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 12 g

Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.

Several flat and botryoidal Kinoite crusts coat hollows in the sparse host rock of this thumbnail piece. These crusts show no visible sign of crystal form, even under 10x magnification; the botryoidal portions are easily definable, though their form may not be caused by the Kinoite. They range in color from white to deep royal blue and are coated with what is likely apophyllite, which gives them a lustrous sparkle.

Dims: 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.3" (6.0 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm)

Wt: 2.8 oz. (78 g)

Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.

A sparkling crust of deep blue Kinoite rests on the dull brown base of this small cabinet piece. The crust is actually made up of countless clusters of microscopic prismatic or bladed crystals that apparently have good monoclinic form. All have the standard deep blue color and vitreous luster, but the sparkle on the crust is actually caused by many small apophyllite crystals.

Dims: 1.7 x 1.1 x 0.5" (4.2 x 2.9 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 0.5 oz. (13 g)

Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, U.S.A.

Crusts and veins of massive or microcrystalline Kinoite coat and permeate the white matrix of this hand specimen. The Kinoite appears to be in excellent condition, though a damage assessment really is useless. It has a bright blue coloration and a seemingly pearly luster. Where it is exposed, the Kinoite is coated with what I think are druses of colorless apophyllite.

Dims:2.0x1.5x1.1" (5.1x3.8x2.8 cm)

Wt: 2.0oz. (57g)

Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona

The top surface of this specimen is richly scattered with crystals of kinoite. These crystals are very small-with a loupe, one can, with difficulty, see that they are crystallized in monoclinic prisms. The kinoite crystals are associated with a scattering of tiny, transparent, clear fluorapophyllite crystals. There is no damage to this specimen.

Dims:2.4x1.6x0.9" (6.1x4.1x2.3 cm)

Wt: 1.6oz. (45g)

Christmas Mine, Gila cty., Arizona

A rich dusting of tiny, tabular kinoite crystals lies on and in a crust of fluorapophyllite in this specimen. These crystals can barely be distinguished with a loupe. Looking at the back of the specimen, two other veins of kinoite may be seen running through the matrix. There is no damage to this specimen.

Dims: 3.59x2.48x1.71" (9.12x6.29x4.34cm)

Wt: 11.53oz (327g)

Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA

A host rock (composed of several distinct sections) has a small crust of deep blue kinoite crystals, plus a large section of a turquoise blue sparkly druze. A loupe reveals that the druze is small crystals of colorless transparent apophyllite with color from tiny inclusions and intergrown crystals of kinoite. More kinoite is scattered over all surfaces of the specimen.