Thinolite (Calcite var. Glendonite)

Item Description

Thinolite is a synonym of glendonite, a variety of calcite. Mineral specimens, in general, are very uncommon from Mono Lake, an alkaline and hypersaline lake believed to have formed at least 760,000 years ago. It is in a caldera which was volcanically active as recently as 350 years ago (MINDAT). However, thinolite specimens are well-known from here. This is a sculptural aggregate of intergrowned and projecting scalenohedrons. The trident spray of crystals is striking. An excellent two-sided example of the species, that is essentially pristine, except for the ends.