PYROPHYLLITE
Specimen phy-5

Dims: 4.5" x 3.1" x 2.8" (11.4 x 7.9 x 7.1 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 6.0 oz. (623 g)

Indian Gulch, Mariposa County, California, U.S.A.

This is the first Pyrophyllite specimen that I have ever examined, and I am very pleased with it! It is very beautiful, and appears to consist of many intersecting sprays of the golden-brown, needlelike crystals. There does not seem to be any host rock, and though several of the more exposed sprays are partially flattened, the piece is in otherwise very good condition. The larger sprays contain crystals up to 1" (2.5 cm) in length, and some of the smallest are not more than a few millimeters long. They have a coloration that ranges from nearly white to golden to a deep brown, which may be influenced by the presence of rust. They have a bright, pearly luster that, with their sometimes golden color, appears almost metallic in areas. Individual crystals may be translucent or even transparent, but in their compact, radiating habit, these are totally opaque.

Dims: 5.0 x 2.6 x 2.9" (12.8 x 6.7 x 7.4 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 10.1 oz. (741 g)

Ottre, Belgium

This cabinet specimen appears to be made up of at least half Pyrophyllite by volume. It consists of many broken and exposed radiating spherules that are affixed to a rusty quartz matrix rock. These spherules contain thick, tightly aggregated Pyrophyllite needles that are generally in good condition (a few are damaged) and reach lengths of 0.8" (2.0 cm). Though their monoclinic/triclinic form is somewhat warped and difficult to study due to their tight aggregation, crystals are obviously present. All have a color that ranges from pale to deep golden-brown and a pearly, sometimes submetallic luster. This is the first specimen that I have ever seen to come from Belgium, a known producer of Pyrophyllite.

Dims: 4.2x1.5x0.7" (10.7x3.8x1.9 cm)

Wt: 0.9 oz. (25.5g)

Brumado, Brazil

This specimen is a cluster of prismatic smoky quartz crystals, largely covered with pyrophyllite crystals. These crystals are colorless and translucent (some small crystals appear transparent), with a pearly luster. The crystals look like a mica, in lamellar clusters. There are also several small nodules of a deep green mineral showing no crystal form, possibly malachite.

Dims: 3.5x1.6x0.9" (8.9x4.1x2.2 cm)

Wt: 0.8 oz. (23.5g)

Brumado, Brazil

This is a cluster of three smoky quartz crystals with many clusters of pyrophyllite. The largest of the smoky quartz crystals is very good, showing excellent transparency (especially towards its point), and a very good termination with only minor damage. The pyrophyllite crystals are translucent with a pearly luster. The largest crystals are over 1cm in length. One end of the specimen also has several clusters of another mineral, with tranparent colorless rhombohedral crystals.

Dims: 4.6x2.8x2.2" (11.6x7.2x5.6cm)

Wt: 20.9 oz. (591g)

Graves Mountain, Georgia, U.S.A.

This large hand specimen consists entirely of radial clusters of transparent colorless pyrophyllite crystals. These have mostly been stained red, probably by iron oxides, enough so that the specimen appears red. There is also a small area of excellent yellow pyrophyllite crystals. The yellow color on the bottom of the specimen is more iron oxides coating clear crystals. The heavily intergrown balls of crystals make for an interesting appearance.