Clinohumite, Forsterite and Phlogopite

Item Description

Here is an interesting combination specimen from the Jacupiranga Mine in Brazil consisting of Clinohumite, Forsterite and Phlogopite crystals and possibly a little Magnetite. The Clinohumite crystals are a vibrant orange-red and range in size from 1 to 4 mm in length and most of them cascade diagonally through the center of the piece as interconnected crystals. There are a few sharp, isolated, translucent to transparent, 1 to 1.5 mm crystals scattered on the piece. Forsterite crystals are present as very pale pastel green, translucent crystals from 2 to 5 mm in length and as granular masses in the matrix that provide great contrast to both the Clinohumite and the Phlogopite. The Phlogopite crystals are generally well-formed, dark green, pseudohexagonal plates or thin "books" from 0.5 to 1.5 cm across that grow off the matrix and as small (1 mm) crystals in the matrix of the piece. This is a good piece from this famous Brazilian mine developed in a large carbonatite complex that is mined largely for "apatite" as phosphate ore for fertilizer!