Microcline on Muscovite ''cast''

Item Description

An unusual and attractive association specimen from Araçuaí, featuring a partially etched, cream colored blocky crystal of Microcline measuring 3.6 cm, sitting on a matrix of bladed, pseud-metallic, greenish-silver Muscovite. If you look closely, you can see the Muscovite has formed a hollow "cast" after an unknown preexisting mineral, possibly Microcline that has etched away, as you can see signs of etching on the remaining Microcline crystals. This is an older specimen, dating back to the 1970s. Although Microcline and Muscovite are not rare in granitic pegmatites, a piece like this is rather rare in my experience from Araçuaí.