MONTMORILLONITE
Specimen mnt-2

Dims: 5-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/4"

Wt: 7.0 oz

California, U.S.A.

What we appear to have here is a shard of a large quartz crystal with 3 discernible but incomplete faces(they look like termination faces to me). The quartz is relatively clear, with 2 faces showing a substantial amount of pink Montmorillonite close to the faces, in a layer that could be described as a "phantom". The Montmorillonite seems to be just a bunch of pink smudges in the crystal, but closer examination reveals that the smudges are made up of fibrous sprays of "crystals", or what appear to be. The third face of the quartz seems to be fogged over with milky quartz, which is concentrated uniformly along the same plane as the Montmorillonite. The first picture gives an view of the entire specimen, and the second is a close-up of the junction of the three faces, with some of the inclusions.

Dims: 2.9 x 2.7 x 1.3" (7.4 x 6.8 x 3.2 cm)

Wt: 5.0 oz. (141 g)

White Queen Mine, Pala, California, U.S.A.

The Montmorillonite in this specimen exists mostly as fibers included in a partly-cut piece of quartz. They are in excellent condition, being protected through inclusion, and reach lengths of about 0.9" (2.3 cm). Though they are difficult to study, they may have some appreciable monoclinic form. Like other specimens from this locality, this material has a pale pink color and likely a dull luster, and is translucent to opaque. A large flat face has been cut into the quartz so that one can easily see it, and part of a natural crystal faces serves as a base.