Analcime is very common at MSH (not to mention elsewhere). Crystals can be as large as 25 cm, well formed or strangely distorted, and sometimes glass clear. The crystals on this specimen are glass clear but tiny. What makes them unique is the very unusual cubic habit. The ones on this specimen are mostly perfect little cubes, with only a few corner modifications.
On other specimens from this find (e.g. Mindat minID C27-55R), the corner modifications are clearly trapezohedral. So, even though these specimens are from near the Peatite-(Y)/Ramikite-(Y) occurrence in the Poudrette pegmatite, the isometric symmetry means that they are not some marvelous incarnation of those minerals. Of course, fluorite can form similar crystals. But it has been established that this is analcime – not fluorite.
The first pair of photos (FOV 1.5 x 1.4 mm) is an extreme close-up of a few of the crystals. The largest is about 1/3 mm on edge and shows very small corner modifications.
There is another crystal on this specimen, similar to the one shown in minID C27-55R, on this specimen, which has larger corner modifications,, but I was not able to get an acceotable photo of it. These are very small crystals. You will need 30-60X to view them. Small - but very interesting and rare for analcime.
The second pair of photos (FOV 3.3 x 1.8 mm) shows most of the cubic analcime on this specimen. The largest crystal here is about 0.45 mm on edge.
The next pair of photos (FOV 3.5 x 2.3 mm) shows the “other side” of these crystals. Because of lack of contrast with the background, this photo isn’t very clear. The largest crystal (far left) is about 0.55 mm on edge.
In addition to the cubic analcime, there is one small “rosette” of platy chabazite-Na (verified on another specimen). There isn’t much to it, but it can be seen in the center of the cavity on the right in the full-view photo.
Single item shipping weight (small box with MM case) is 1.9 oz. Up to a total weight of 8 oz (225 g), this could be combined with other items from this or future auctions for the same postage. If you wish to keep an “open box”, let me know. Please see my "Shipping Policy" for details.
