GLAUBERITE
Specimen gla-2

Dims: 2.8" x 1.8" x 1.8" (7.1 x 4.6 x 4.6 cm)

Wt: 2.29 oz

Lochiel, southern Australia

This rather unusual specimen consists of a cluster of thin, white, diamond-shaped Glauberite blades that are partially intergrown into each other. The crystals range in size from 3 x 3 x 1 mm to 1.8 x 1.6 x 0.1" (4.6 x 4.1 x 0.3 cm) and have a very bright white color and a matte luster. They are also completely opaque. The small amount of damage that is visible on the specimen shows that these crystals are actually covered with a thin layer of decayed material- their cores are actually colorless and transparent.

Dims: 1.9 x 1.6 x 0.4" (4.8 x 4.1 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 24.4 g

Borax Lake, California, U.S.A.

This thumbnail specimen consists of what appears to be a "parallel association" of heavily intergrown Glauberite blades. These blades are so intergrown that one cannot tell when one ends and another begins, so I will refer to them as a single "crystal". The crystal is in relatively good condition, showing no fresh human-induced damage, and has moderately good monoclinic, bladed form; its edges are well-defined, though its faces are uneven and possess a rather dull pearly luster. It has a dull, pale creamy-brown coloration and is moderately translucent, though it does show some dim transparence in one spot. There is no host rock of any sort present.

Dims: 2.6 x 1.7 x 0.9" (6.6 x 4.3 x 2.3 cm)

Wt: 1.33 oz. (37.9 g)

Camp Verde, Arizona, U.S.A.

This large thumbnail specimen consists of a cluster of radiating Glauberite crystals that is in good condition, showing widespread but slight damage. All of the other crystals radiate off of the largest crystal, which has dimensions of 2.5 x 0.9 x 0.6" (6.4 x 2.3 x 1.5 cm). All have moderately good monoclinic prismatic form, though their edges are somewhat rounded and their faces are heavily patterned. They are colorless, transparent, and moderately to very clear, containing only a few internal fractures and inclusions. There is no host rock present, and a small amount of a black, tar-like substance is on the "bottom" of the piece- it was probably used to affix it to a base.