Anhydrite (classic material)

Item Description

A classic specimen of blue Anhydrite from Naica. This piece has beautiful blue color with an almost chatoyant luster on the surface and no damage, save the bottom where it was removed from the pocket wall. These are some of the most iconic and colorful examples of Anhydrite in the world. The species is closely related to Gypsum, the biggest difference is that Anhydrite (like its name implies: An = without & Hydro = water) doesn't have the attached water molecules in its chemical composition.
From the collection of Daniel (Dan) W. Behnke (July 31, 1932 - January 20, 2020) of Glenview, Illinois. Dan was an Associate Photographer of both the Mineralogical Record and Rock and Minerals magazines. He served as the Micromount chairman of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies from 1981 to 1988. He was elected to the National Board of Directors of the Friends of Mineralogy in 1989, and the Micromounters Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a beloved member of the mineral collecting community, most notably for his supreme skill at photomicrography. If you've ever seen any of Dan's micro photos on mindat.org, it's easy to see why he was one of the best in this field. You can read his obituary at https://www.nhscotthanekamp.com/obituaries/Daniel-W-Behnke?obId=10633628