Cavansite, Stilbite. Pune District, Pune Division, Maharashtra, India. 18.2 x 16.1 x 11.4 cm (7.17 x 6.34 x 4.48 in). ...

Description

Cavansite, Stilbite
Pune District, Pune Division, Maharashtra, India
18.2 x 16.1 x 11.4 cm (7.17 x 6.34 x 4.48 in)

Cavansite exploded in popularity once the material from Pune, India, began filtering out from the relatively new workings of the Maharashtra basalt fields. The majority of specimens were zeolitic, but phyllosilicate Cavansite was often found as an associated species, intense against the more pastel colors of the zeolites. In fact, Cavansite and Pentagonite, another signature mineral of Pune, are polymorphs, with Cavansite being the low-temperature form of the chemical composition. Cavansite is more green than Pentagonite, and has a remarkably intense color, so much so that even photos and videos can't quite capture the depth. On this very large and richly crystallized example, the Cavansite reach up to 12 millimeters in diameter and form as acicular aggregates: a few partial or cleaved spheres around the matrix show this growth. The overall size of the specimen cannot be overstated: to have a large matrix piece with this amount of Cavansite is special. Furthermore, this material is becoming increasingly scarce, with the former Pune District production boom quickly waning, and the best specimens being hoarded into private collections.

From The John Farmer Collection.

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