Detailed information
Species
Bastnasite
Dimensions
90 x 70 x 81
mm
Locality
Zagi Mountain, Mulla Ghori Khyber Agency Pakistan
Condition
No recorded repairs
A rare Bastnaesite specimen of several well-formed honey-brown crystals on a granitic gneiss matrix. The three well-formed, squat hexagonal Bastnaesite crystals have slightly bevelled edges and a resinous lustre. The largest crystal measures 1.8 cm in diameter and 0.8 cm thick. Bastnaesite is a Rare Earth Element (REE) carbonate and tucked behind the main two crystals are several smaller intergrown crystals. This large cabinet specimen is from Zagi Mountain in the Khyber Agency of Pakistan, a location which produces some of the largest and best crystals known. The crystals on this specimen are in excellent condition and, unusually, remain on the matrix! A specimen worthy of any important museum.