Detailed information
Species
Thaumasite
Dimensions
26 x 22 x 15
mm
Locality
N'Chwaning Mines Kuruman, Kalahari Mn. Field N. Cape Province, South Africa
Condition
No recorded repairs
A superb, gemmy colourless prismatic Thaumasite, from the N'Chwaning mines in South Africa. Thaumasite is a rare and complex calcium silicate which includes a carbonate component and sometimes a sulphite. This 2.6 x 2.2 x 1.5 cm cluster of crystals, although colourless, does contain a hint of yellowish-green and is attached to a thin patchy crust of chocolate brown siliceous matrix. About eight Thaumasite crystals make up this large thumbnail, the largest by far being 1.8 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm. All the crystals are transparent and contain many gemmy zones plus patches of iridescent interference colours within the prism bodies. This is a well crystallised specimen of Thaumasite from the N'Chwaning mines within the Kalahari Manganese Field.