Kyanite and Kyanite perimorphs after Andalusite

Item Description

Dramatic, highly sculptural, large 2-sided vuggy specimen from the famous Champion Mine. The striking sculptural vugs on both sides of the very 3-dimensional blocky matrix are filled with sharp, oxide-tinted orthorhombic Andalusite crystals. Very unusually, the broken crystals at the front of one of the vugs is the same material as the massive blue-gray matrix. We showed this impressive and very interesting piece to one of our resident PhD Mineralogists, Dr. Tom Campbell, who examined the piece and did some research. Tom proposes: 1) the pink patches scattered on all sides of the piece are the Andalusite; 2) the blue-gray matrix is Kyanite; and 3) the oxide-coated sharp crystal forms are actually Kyanite perimorphs after the Andalusite crystals. Perimorphs are minerals with the same chemical formula, in this case Al-silicate, but different crystal habits. Andalusite is Orthorhombic and Kyanite is Triclinic. MINDAT does NOT list Kyanite for the mine. The base has been sawed to enhance the dramatic 2-sided display. Undoubtedly from the well-known Champion andalusite mine, which is 7 miles East of Mocalno (MINDAT). Formerly in the Paterson, New Jersey Museum. From the broad and important collections of Dick Hauck, founder and owner of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in New Jersey. Truly, a fascinating and unusual large old-time pseudomorph from the noted locale.