Detailed information
Species
Hydroxyapophyllite-(K), Apophyllite, Scolecite
Dimensions
23 x 30 x 19
mm
Weight
1 g
Locality
Těchlovice, Děčín District Ústí nad Labem Region Czech Republic
Condition
No recorded repairs
This well crystallised and aesthetic Apophyllite with Scolecite is from the basalts at Těchlovice in the Děčín District, within the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. Although labelled simply Apophyllite, because no analysis has been conducted, Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) is a major component of K-feldspar-rich hornfels, so it is most likely this. A miniature with a maximum dimension of 3 cm, a single, pale bluish-green Apophyllite/Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) crystal sits amongst colourless to milky acicular Scolecite crystals, Scolecite being a hydrated calcium silicate of the Zeolite group. Mineralisation at this locality occurs within the basalt in muscovite pockets together with gauteite and bostonite veins. Gauteite is a fine-grained to aphanitic rock composed of orthoclase and plagioclase in about equal portions and subordinate amounts of ferromagnesian constituents. Bostonite is a variety of fine-grained leucocratic alkali feldspar syenite consisting almost entirely of alkali feldspar. This rare miniature is accompanied with two, fairly old-ish looking, handwritten labels.