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Gypsum Psm Glauberite

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PDM780486

Gypsum Psm Glauberite

Pseudomorph

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Class: 
Single Crystal
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
5.2 × 3.7 × 1.8 cm
Description

Even if these pseudomorphs are known since the end of the XIX century they are quite unknown for the general collector, even in Spain, because the old quarries where they were found were lost long ago. However, due to the construction of the connexion of the M50 and A4 highways, I was able to extract some interesting crystals. The biggest reached 30 cm!.

This specimen is a floater pseudomorph where the original tabular crystal of glauberite was replaced by an interpenetrated aggregate of gypsum crystals. The original crystal faces are slightly curved but the edges are well preserved, so the Miller indices can be ascribed (last picture). Nice representative specimen for the locality and for this kind of replacement.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Gypsum

Formula: 
CaSO4·2H2O
Strunz: 
7.CD.40
Hardness: 
2.0
Streak: 
White.

Glauberite

Formula: 
Na2Ca(SO4)2
Strunz: 
7.AD.25
Crystal System: 
Monoclinic
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.0
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
El Castellar Mine, Villarrubia de Santiago, Ocaña, Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain

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