Description
VILLIAUMITE SPHERE
This is the polished villiaumite sphere with hackmanite. Diameter 2.6″ (66mm). Weight – 14.1oz (399 grams). Origin: Russia, Kola Peninsula.
Some information about villiaumite:
Villiaumite is a rare halide mineral composed of sodium fluoride, NaF. It is very soluble in water and some specimens fluoresce under long and short wave ultraviolet light. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and is usually red, pink, or orange in color.
The red color is due to a broad absorption peaking at 512 nm. It is a result of radiation damage to the crystal.
It was first described in 1908 for an occurrence in Los Islands, Guinea and named after the French explorer, Maxime Villiaume (More information about villiaumite).
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