Benitoite Crystals on Natrolite
Benitoite Gem Mine
San Benito County, California
2.5 cm x 2.0 cm x 1.4 cm
This specimen may be small, but it is very special in its own right.
The is a specimen of benitoite crystals on snowy white natrolite.
There crystals are all floaters, meaning they are not attached to the matrix.
Natrolite was the very last mineral to form at the mine many millions of years ago.
When it did begin to form, crystals that were lose and not attached to matrix,
got raised up in the solution and became suspended in the natrolite as it solidified.
There are also a few neptunite crystals present.
There is a slight bit of matrix on this specimen at the very bottom, but there are no crystals attached.
The natrolite also has a vug below the crystals,
which allows you to see below the crystals and above the slight bit of matrix.
A small but unique specimen.
