Detailed information
Species
Prehnite
Dimensions
73 x 98 x 71
mm
Weight
460 g
Locality
Imilchil, Imilchil Caïdat Imilchil Cercle, Midelt Province Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Condition
No recorded repairs
As world Prehnite occurrences go, the remote discovery at Imilchil, in the Anti-Atlas mountains, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco is one of the most distinctive in terms of its crystal form. Some specimens from there follow the normal rules but a small number display extraordinary features unique to that deposit. This cabinet-sized display specimen is one such piece. Colour-wise, it is quite unusual for Imilchil, where pale green shades usually dominate. This being a pale straw-yellow. However, it is its crystal shape which is far more distinctive, this consisting of cog-like serated circular 'wheels', of 'fan'-like sprays, rather than dome-like botryoidal aggregates. The largest 'fan' is spectacular, a whopper at over 6 cm in diameter, and standing upright in prominent view with no damage. This site has produced Prehnite specimens off and on since the early 21st century, with a batch of distinctive apple-green crystals being found in 2013. This one however, is entirely different, and holds up as one of the most dramatic Prehnite specimens I have seen, from anywhere in the world.