APM06 Mesolite
Nasik Area, Maharashtra State, India
8.1x 5.4x 6.1 cm
A perfect acicular cluster of fine mesolite crystals, nestled at the back of a geode. While these delicate zeolite minerals can be very beautiful, I usually don't buy them-- the fine crystals are usually prone to breakage. I do however make exceptions for specimens that are naturally protected in geodes or vugs-- as is the case with this one.
It is worth noting the amount of work that goes into preparing these things. What looks like a simple geode was once part of a quarry wall or large boulder, that was painstakingly carved down into its present shape-- often the process requires the trimming of many pounds of material. There are some saw marks.
