N'Chwaning Mines, Northern Cape, South Africa

6.5 x 4.7 x 4.2 cm
2.6 x 1.9 x 1.7 in

$100      Click here to order this mineral.                                                                                                                                                              

At one end of this specimen, there is a cluster of small Ettringite crystals. The color of the Ettringite crystals is a pale yellow tinted with green. The lightness of the color is due primarily to a thin coating of an unidentified material. This coating also makes the crystals look opaque but examination with back lightning reveals the underlying crystals are actually translucent to clear. The Ettringite crystals lie upon black, shiny, elongated Gaudefroyite crystals. At the opposite end of the specimen from the Ettringite there are clear to milky, stubby Quartz crystals with good luster. In places, there is Gaudefroyite included in the Quartz with a few crystals only partially included. A the side of the specimen which is pictured, much of the Gaudefroyite and Quartz are covered with crude, platy, opaque, white Barite crystals. There is little of the Barite on the bottom of specimen (not pictured) which consists mostly of Gaudefroyite. There is also one small area of micro, red/orange colored Andradite on the Quartz at the end of the specimen.

Condition: Very Good

Flaws: Nothing Appreciable

This mineral is also found in the following galleries: Minerals From Africa | Sulfates | Borates and Hydrocarbons | Beryl | Calcite | Minerals Priced Between 100 and 199 Dollars