Stevensite pseudomorph after Pectolite (ex Carmichael Collection)

Item Description

This piece is one of the rarest replacements that you will see from the New Jersey Trap Rocks. It's not your typical Prehnite after Anhydrite, but rather Stevesnite replacing Pectolite! Stevensite is often thought of as a Zeolite species as it's often associated with Zeolites, but it's actually part of the Smectite group (clay minerals). Bronze colored Steveniste has pseudomorphed radial thin prismatic crystals of Pectolite on basalt matrix. I've only seen one other specimen of this material, and they may not be the prettiest specimens from UNS, but they are certainly interesting and possibly unique to the locality. From the collection of Eugene Carmichael.