Reflections and Surface Textures
Mineral Matters #558
…and misidentification. Another exhibit in my Hidden Collection!
When you look, you see. And when you look closer, you see more!
I have been looking for gmelinite specimens to photograph for an upcoming Mineral Snippet in the next issue of the Monthly Mineral Chronicles.
This particular specimen was labelled as pyrite in gmelinite, but is actually chabazite. The closeup view shows interesting surface features, such as the plant-like growths coming up from the bottom of the crystal. These are not where something organic might have been growing on the crystal, they are actually incised marks. The pyramids are caused through twinning. And the photo also includes a nice reflection in the crystal below, hinting at the high lustre of the crystals.
Click on the photo for a higher resolution version.
Below: Pyrite in chabazite, Queen Mary's Falls National Park, Killarney, Southern Downs Region, Queensland. Width of view 6mm.
Could we have more details about the incised marks please?
how are the said incised surfaces created?
one of my main focus is precisely surface features (the skin) of various crystals! although the peculiar samples are mostly variants of quartz!