Pentagonite (rare)

Item Description

Pentagonite (and by the same lines Cavansite) has one of the most distinctive colors in the mineral world. There are certain species that can be directly tied to a single world locality, and Pentagonite is one of the better known examples thanks to the fantastic specimens from Wagholi. If it were not for the pieces from this area, I don't think many people would know about Pentagonite, at almost certainly not in any display quality specimen. Not only are the finest examples found at this locality, but they are also incredibly beautiful and highly displayable. The magnificent intense electric blue color is what draws the eye, but the superb crystallization makes them all the more enticing. When it comes to rarities, most of the time, crystals are small and nondescript. In the case of a species like Pentagonite, the crystals are large, beautiful and the only specimens of note come from one place in the world. The species chemically is identical to Cavansite, but it is dimorphous in the fact that the habit of the crystals is different. Pentagonite gets its name due to the fact that the crystals form in unusual five-fold "pentagonal star" cyclic twins consisting of 5 individual crystals that loop creating a minor distortion of the crystal lattice. These 5-sided or 5-pointed crystals are incredibly rare in nature. For reference, here is a link to a photo of a close-up of a textbook twin of the material ( https://i.pinimg.com/236x/07/ed/60/07ed60470bade3918ceff313f2d8a9d4--image-search-amber.jpg ). This attractive specimen features a good quality, beautiful, sharp, neon blue aggregate of Pentagonite sitting on a layer of sparkling beige Heulandite on basalt matrix. The group measures 1.1 cm across. I feel these Pentagonites are not appreciated enough due to the fact they are still available on the market, but like many minerals from India, they are the finest representation of their respective species ever found. Keep in mind that minerals like Adamite from the Ojuela Mine or Fluorites from Southern Illinois, were undervalued back in the day due to their abundance, but have increased dramatically in value now that no more are being found.