1.9" Roselite and Cobaltoan Calcite in Dolomite - Morocco

This specimen contains clusters of beautiful magenta-purple roselite and a gorgeous cobaltoan calcite crystal lining a pocket in dolomite, collected in Morocco. Some of the calcite even contains phantoms of reddish scalenohedral calcite!

Roselite is an arsenate mineral in the monoclinic crystal system. It gained its name not from the rose color it generally exhibits, but was in fact named in honor of a German mineralogist by the name of Gustav Rose. However, the name is quite fitting, since roselite typically displays a vitreous rose-red to pink color. Darker crystals have been known to frequently display marked color zoning due to variations in molecular composition.

Roselite has the chemical formula Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O, meaning it contains arsenic. While it doesn't pose an immediate health risk from purely handling, ingestion in significant amounts and/or crushing and inhaling roselite can be toxic. For this reason, we suggest washing hands after handling and keeping out of reach of children.


FOR SALE
$19 $15
DETAILS
SPECIES
Roselite, Calcite & Dolomite
LOCATION
Bou Azzer District, Morocco
SIZE
1.9" long, 1.85" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#291143