Calcite var. Thinolite pseudomorph

Item Description

This stuff has confused collectors since it first came to market in the early 90s as calcite after something embedded in concretions, then glendonite after ikaite, then as calcite after ikaite; and now classified as CALCITE VARIETY THINOLITE, which is PSEUDOMORPH AFTER AN UNKNOWN MINERAL. No more Ikaite in the name...In any case, they are neat specimens! This is a strange, biomorphic-looking pseudomorph (known as "glendonite"), from Russia. These big, sharp orange-brown pseudomorphed crystals measure up to 4 cm in length. This is a large and dramatic example of this sort of specimen, with a really wonderful overall form. Unlike most of them, which are somewhat radial, this featuyres a largeish oriented crystal, as if a rocket had just impaled the concretion around the crystals. See MINDAT for more info here: http://www.mindat.org/min-11409.html and note I sold this twice now already, back in the 90s and again in 2006. On mindat it is listed as the main photo for the species link and a note: Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 31st Dec 2006