MORDENITE
Specimen mrd-3

Dims: 7.8 x 4.2 x 3.3" (19.8 x 10.7 x 8.4 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 14.8 oz. (874.0 g)

New Water Mountains, near Eagle Eye, La Paz County, Arizona, U.S.A.

This odd cabinet-sized specimen consists of a pale brown host rock that is partly coated by several patches of extremely fine, fibrous Mordenite crystals. These crystals are much finer than human hair and are so thin that they look like cotton wool or spider webs. They are flexible, and though there is some noticeable damage to a few of the patches, individual fibers are far too small to study even under 15x magnification. They grow out of patches of more massive, white material that is most likely more Mordenite, and there are small spots of a pale green coloration that are evidence of a thin layer of unknown material between the massive layer and the base rock.

Dims: 3.7 x 3.3 x 1.9" (9.4 x 8.4 x 4.8 cm)

Wt: 5.92 oz. (167.8 g)

Prineville, Oregon, U.S.A.

This specimen consists of several crusts of massive Mordenite out of which extend countless superfine Mordenite needles. These needles are generally in very good condition, though a few patches are noticeably crushed, and achieve lengths of up to 0.6" (1.5 cm) or greater. As their diameter measures far less than 1 mm (each is considerably thinner than a human hair), their orthorhombic form is impossible to study without high magnification. All appear to be compacted at their bases, but radiate and separate into individual fibers towards their terminations. Their white color likewise darkens to a pale gray towards their terminations, and all appear to possess a pearly luster. A small amount of a dull, moderately pale brown host rock is present- it looks a lot like dried mud.

Dims: 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.6" (1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm)

Wt: 12.3 g w/ specimen box

Kalama, Cowlitz County, Washington, U.S.A.

At least 10 small Mordenite blades rest on the brown host rock of this small thumbnail specimen. Several are broken and mostly incomplete, but at least 4 or 5 are intact and in good condition. The largest of these intact blades has a diameter of 0.3" (8 mm) and like all of the others, has a rather badly-defined orthohrombic bladed form- though their edges are sharp, they are quite uneven, as are their faces. All have a white coloration and a dull, nearly matte luster. The dark brown host rock is covrered with a very fine druse of what I believe are almost microscopic quartz crsytals. It is affixed inside a plastic specimen box with an adhesive putty.

Dims: 1.2 x 0.7 x 0.5" (3.0 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm)

Wt: 0.4 oz. (10 g) w/ specimen box

Skookumchuck Dam, near Bucoda, Thurston County, Washington, U.S.A.

This rather interesting thumbnail specimen consists of a section of thin crust from which extends a dense matte of countless Mordenite fibers. Though some crushing damage is evident, the matte is in very good condition. Each fiber is microscopically thin and pearly in luster. Though individual fibers are likely colorless and transparent, their intense density gives the matte a white color. The piece is hot-glued into a plastic thumbnail box.