Benitoite with Neptunite
Benitoite Gem Mine
San Benito County, California
3.0 cm x 1.8 cm x 1.4 cm
Here is a small but beautiful specimen of benitoite and neptunite crystals.
The benitoite has that beautiful blue coloring with some gemmy tips.
Some of the benitoite crystals are well formed, the others having their growth interrupted by matrix contact.
The largest benitoite on the specimen is 2.0 cm long, hard to tell from the front side.
The faces have mostly matte surfaces, which 99% of all benitoite crystals have.
Edge crystals are not broken or damaged, that is where they contact matrix, so they did not fully form.
The back side also shows contact with matrix.
The neptunite crystals has some good luster, but also show spots of matrix contact.
This specimen was completely covered in matrix and natrolite, it was part of a vein that ran through the matrix.
Front side is very showy. Overall a wonderful specimen.
