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Oddities from Merelani November 30, 2010 · 7 specimens |
AF468 - Stilbite on Tanzanite sold
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2.5 x 1.2 x 0.6 cm
Single, gemmy blue Tanzanite crystal with the backside covered by Stilbite crystals (analyzed), the only such association I have yet seen from Merelani.The Tanzanite is richly colored and gemmy. A unique Tanzanite thumbnail for sure.
AF720 - Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite sold
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm
A real rarity and the only such association I am aware of, a gem quality Tanzanite crystal with an attached 5mm Allanite-(Ce) (analyzed) near the termination. Aside from the unusual association, the Tanzanite itself is spectacular, being 100% gem quality, like purple glass, with good luster and though not large, is a thick crystal. A truely unique Tanzanite thumbnail. 19 carats of gem Tanzanite.
AF723 - Kyanite sold
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.2 x 1.0 x 1 cm
Like many other minerals, species that are just OK elsewhere can be spectacular at Merelani. This is the first and only Kyanite I've seen from Merelani, and the color is spectacular, an intense blue, and very transparent.
AF724 - Wurtzite sold
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.7 x 0.6 cm
Euhedral single crystal, one of only a very few I've seen from Merelani, that lights up a bright red orange when backlit.
AF726 - Calcite on Diopside sold
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.8 x 3.5 x 1.8 cm
White Calcite crystals (analyzed) on a cluster of bright green Diopside. The Calcite are pearlescent and platy in form, the Diopside a bright green color with gem zones and some attached Graphite on the backside.
AF727 - Spessartine on Mica, Quartz sold
Nani, Loliondo, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Small Cabinet - 5.2 x 5 x 2.5 cm
This is a specimen I held back for years from the original find, the only one I saw that occurred on this pink Quartz and Mica matrix. The garnets reach 1.4cm and are well distributed across the specimen. A colorful and unique specimen from this occurrence.
T22 - Huelandite on Tanzanite sold
Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Miniature - 4 x 4 x 3 cm
Large Tanzanite crystal with jagged termination, rehealed on the bottom, with lots of associated minerals. Attached at the base is a cluster of pearly brown crystals of Huelandite. The Huelandite cluster is over Diopside and Pyrite and is associated with white needle-like crystals of Tremolite. There is a small blue Apatite on the Huelandite. Small Pyrite crystals are attached to the rehealed base. This specimen has lots of mineralogical interest and appeal. Illustrated in the Sept.-Oct. 2009 issue of the Mineralogical Record (Figure 72, page 381). A very interesting, good sized crystal, 4 x 4 x 3 cm.