Detailed information
Species
Rhodizite - Londonite
Dimensions
53 x 58 x 34
mm
Weight
122 g
Locality
Tetezantsio pegmatites Andrembeso, Betafo Vakinankaratra, Madagascar
Condition
No recorded repairs
An excellent example of an intergrown crystal of Rhodizite-Londonite from the Tetezantsio pegmatites at Andrembeso in Vakinankaratra, Madagascar. This locality is almost in the dead centre of Madagascar and produces a limited but rare suite of pegmatite minerals. The species Londonite (caesium beryllium oxide) and its potassium analogue Rhodizite form a continuous solid solution series, The chemical composition of such crystals from this pegmatite lie typically somewhere along this series, so the term Rhodizite-Londonite is a more accurate name, rather then just one of its end members. You can judge the large size of the crystal from the specimen's overall dimensions, this being 5.8 x 5.3 x 3.4 cm. The Rhodizite-Londonite is pale lemon with a translucent outer shell and is perched perfectly for display on a highly naturally etched creamy matrix with a sponge-like texture and porosity. A superb example of this rare pegmatite species.
