2.6" Stilbite, Quartz, Clinozoisite and Calcite Association - Poland

This is a beautiful, 2.6" wide stilbite, quartz, clinozoisite and calcite association that was collected from Strzegom, Poland. The stilbite is orange-brown in color and formed from a quartz, clinozoisite and calcite crystal encrusted matrix.

Stilbite is a tectosilicate mineral of the zeolite group that is commonly found in zeolite deposits. Crystals often form flowery bowtie or hourglass-shaped structures and come in a variety of colors. Some of the most beautiful colorations are the pink or peach tints.

Quartz is the name given to silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust. Quartz crystals generally grow in silica-rich environments--usually igneous rocks or hydrothermal environments like geothermal waters--at temperatures between 100°C and 450°C, and usually under very high pressure. In either case, crystals will precipitate as temperatures cool, just as ice gradually forms when water freezes. Quartz veins are formed when open fissures are filled with hot water during the closing stages of mountain formation: these veins can be hundreds of millions of years old.

Clinozoisite is a aluminum calcium sorosilicate with the complex chemical formula {Ca2}{Al3}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH). It is a member of the epidote group and is often found exhibiting colorless, yellow, yellow-green, green, or pink coloration. It also goes by the name of "aluminum epidote" and is found in locations of metamorphism and calcium-bearing sedimentary rocks.

About Calcite Crystals

Calcite crystals are a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) known for their diverse shapes, transparency, and vibrant range of colors. They typically form in rhombohedral, scalenohedral, or prismatic shapes, often with well-defined, sharp edges and glossy surfaces. Calcite crystals are often translucent or transparent, sometimes displaying a double refraction effect where objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled. They can appear in various colors—white, clear, yellow, pink, blue, green, and orange—depending on impurities or trace minerals.

A notable characteristic of calcite is its reaction with weak acids like vinegar, which causes it to effervesce, or fizz, as it releases carbon dioxide. This property makes calcite crystals a key tool in geological identification and studies. Calcite forms in many environments, from sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble to hydrothermal veins.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Stilbite, Quartz, Clinozoisite & Calcite
LOCATION
Strzegom, Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Poland
SIZE
2.6" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#148420