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Benitoite Joaquinite-(Ce) & Neptunite

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PDM907572

Benitoite Joaquinite-(Ce) & Neptunite

Type Locality

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, United States of America
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Thumbnail (1-3cm)
Size: 
1.9 × 1.2 × 1 cm
Largest Crystal: 
1.40cm
Description

Euhedral blue benitoite crystal of light blue colour and strong UV fluorescence of blue colour under short waves. It is attached to a side of matrix that is rich in pseudo-cubic, amber coloured crystals of joaquinite-(Ce) and terminated black neptunites. The Dallas Gem Mine is the type locality of benitoite and joaquinite-(Ce).

Ex Georges Vanacker* collection.

*Vanackerite from Tsumeb was named after him.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Benitoite

Formula: 
BaTi(Si3O9)
Strunz: 
9.CA.05
Crystal System: 
Hexagonal
Hardness: 
6.0 - 6.5
Type Locality: 
California State Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine; Benitoite Mine; Benitoite Gem Mine; Gem Mine), Dallas Gem Mine area, San Benito River headwaters area, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA

Joaquinite-(Ce)

Formula: 
NaBa2Ce2FeTi2[Si4O12]2O2(OH,F)·H2O
Strunz: 
9.CE.25
Hardness: 
5.0 - 5.5
Type Locality: 
California State Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine; Benitoite Mine; Benitoite Gem Mine; Gem Mine), Dallas Gem Mine area, San Benito River headwaters area, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA

Neptunite

Formula: 
Na2KLi(Fe2+,Mn2+)2Ti2(Si8O24)
Strunz: 
9.EH.05
Hardness: 
5.0 - 6.0
Colour: 
Black
Type Locality: 
Narsaarsuk pegmatite (Narssârssuk pegmatite), Narsaarsuk Plateau, Igaliku (Igaliko), Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland

Seller Information

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