Hydroxyapophyllite-(K)

Item Description

Here is a very uncommon Apophyllite species (not the more common fluorapophyllite we know from other locales like India and Brazil), from the famous N'Chwaning mines. Zeolites are very rare in the Kalahari Manganese Field, and this is a rich piece! The piece is a large cabinet sized, densely intergrown grouping of sharp, well-formed, translucent, pearly Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) crystals sitting on a layer of microcrystalline Manganese-bearing Calcite (based on UV). The pseudocubic crystals up to 1 cm on edge, have a growth layering or banding to them with some having well defined striations on the crystal face. There are a few small nicks and bruising noted here and there, so the piece is not 100% pristine, but it's close. It is a very showy example of this unique material. These are much more rare than the more common fluorapophyllite crystals from India, and elsewhere. Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) specimens like this were only found a few times, mostly decades ago in the 1980s here. Don't miss out on this chance to add an outstanding older specimen of this rare elusive mineral to your collection. Ex. Kurt Hefendehl.