Pollucite Crystal Specimen Russia Transbaikalia

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Description

POLLUCITE CRYSTAL

This is the colorless transparent pollucite crystal. Dimensions: 3.0 x 1.4 x 1.1″ (7.5 x 3.6 x 2.8cm). Weight – 2.2oz (63 grams). Origin: Russia, Transbaikalia.

Some information about pollucite:

Pollucite is a zeolite mineral with iron, calcium, rubidium and potassium as common substituting elements. It is important as a significant ore of caesium and sometimes rubidium. It forms a solid solution series with analcime. It crystallizes in the isometric – hexoctahedral crystal system as colorless, white, gray, or rarely pink and blue masses. Well formed crystals are rare. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 and a specific gravity of 2.9. It has a brittle fracture and no cleavage.

It was first described by August Breithaupt in 1846 for occurrences on the island of Elba, Italy. It is named for Pollux, the twin of Castor on the grounds that it is often found associated with petalite (previously known as castorite). The high caesium content was missed by the first analysis by Karl Friedrich Plattner in 1848, but after the discovery of caesium in 1860 a second analysis in 1864 was able to show the high caesium content of pollucite.

Additional information

Weight 63 g