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Neptunite from Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California 53032

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Rocks, Fossils & Minerals Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 1,875.00 USD
Neptunite from Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California  53032
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An attractive, classic specimen of this unusual silicate of potassium, sodium, lithium, iron, manganese, and titanium. The Benitoite Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine) has produced the world's finest known crystals of neptunite. At the "macro scale" neptunite appears to be jet black in color, but, it is actually a deep maroon reddish-brown. This color is apparent when macro crystals are viewed in strong light at sharp angles, in microcrystals, or when prepared in thin section. When found most neptunite crystals from San Benito Co., California are embedded in a thick vein-filling of the mineral natrolite. Specimens from this locale are prepared for collectors by dissolving some of the surrounding Natrolite in acid to expose the Neptunite crystals. This specimen shows the rare, blackish, highly lustrous, prismatic neptunite crystals on a nicely contrasting white colored natrolite covered matrix ... a very aesthetic mineral specimen. Dimensions (cm): 2.8 H x 4.7 W x 5 D. Location: Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, USA City: San Benito State: California Date: