Help to identify this crystalline cluster

Mityfast

Newbie
Jun 22, 2019
3
12
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I have come to have this cluster and I am at a loss to find out anything about it.

It is hard....a nail will no scratch it, but a Carbide tip drill bit will.

I have searched google looking at cube crystals with no help. The seller said it was a "ginger yellow, agate quartz crystal mineral" but I have no way to substantiate this and no idea where it came from.

I will post both dry and wet photos.
Any help would be appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0749.jpg
    IMG_0749.jpg
    436 KB · Views: 62
  • IMG_0842.jpg
    IMG_0842.jpg
    422.8 KB · Views: 53
  • IMG_0843.jpg
    IMG_0843.jpg
    354.8 KB · Views: 46
  • IMG_0753.jpg
    IMG_0753.jpg
    390.5 KB · Views: 50
  • IMG_0841.jpg
    IMG_0841.jpg
    353.8 KB · Views: 44

Jim in Idaho

Silver Member
Jul 21, 2012
3,320
4,699
Blackfoot, Idaho
Detector(s) used
White's GM2, GM3, DFX, Coinmaster, TDI-SL, GM24K, Falcon MD20, old Garrett Masterhunter BFO
'Way Too Cool' dual 18 Watt UV light
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Don't know what it is, but it's a gorgeous specimen!
Jim
 

Upvote 0

Kray Gelder

Gold Member
Feb 24, 2017
7,013
12,578
Georgetown, SC
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Fluorite, perhaps. The pic top right, when zoomed in, shows perfect cubic fracture going on, along some crystal edges, which is a characteristic of fluorite. IMO.
 

Upvote 0
OP
OP
M

Mityfast

Newbie
Jun 22, 2019
3
12
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It has a fluorite-like crystal structure, but is harder and much heavier than any fluorite I have, so that is what is puzzling me, besides the odd description given by the seller.
 

Upvote 0

fuss

Hero Member
Jul 27, 2018
563
820
Wisconsin
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
looks like fluorite, if you happen to have a long wave uv light, it would fluoresce blue. The seller's description is very sketchy.
 

Upvote 0

IAMZIM

Bronze Member
Apr 23, 2011
1,567
2,160
Butte City, Montana
Detector(s) used
ace 250/garret pinpointer, garret AT Gold
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hmmmm..... I was going to say that barite can have a cubic structure, but barite is slightly softer than flourite.......whatever it is, it's a neat specimen!:icon_thumleft:
 

Upvote 0
OP
OP
M

Mityfast

Newbie
Jun 22, 2019
3
12
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Don't know what it is, but it's a gorgeous specimen!
Jim

Fluorite, perhaps. The pic top right, when zoomed in, shows perfect cubic fracture going on, along some crystal edges, which is a characteristic of fluorite. IMO.

Fluorite would be a good guess.

looks like fluorite, if you happen to have a long wave uv light, it would fluoresce blue. The seller's description is very sketchy.

Hmmmm..... I was going to say that barite can have a cubic structure, but barite is slightly softer than flourite.......whatever it is, it's a neat specimen!:icon_thumleft:

Mystery Solved,
I attended the Canadian Museum of Nature and their amazing Rock and Mineral Department where I saw a near identical specimen. I also had correspondence from the man who found the specimen in Donghai County, JianhSu Province in China also known as the "Crystal Capital of China" (quoting him). He found 4 pieces similar to mine at a old mine site tailings but didn't know what it was.


Rhomboid Andradite Garnet Cluster


According to the museum, I have a rather unique piece.
Thank you all for your input.
 

Upvote 0
Oct 5, 2014
31,886
35,425
Massachusetts
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett: AT Pro, AT Gold & Infinium; Minelab: Explorer SE, II; Simplex; Tesoro: Tejon & Outlaw; White's: V3i
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Looks like a cubic structure, very interesting specimen. :icon_thumleft:
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Top