#manganite

Manganite with Todorokite on matrix

Manganite on Ettringite

Rare and fragile, these beautiful hexagonal crystals in the photo comes from the only source of this gemmy yellow sulphate mineral: The N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa's Kalahari manganese fields. Elsewhere it occurs as microcrystals, usually white to colourless. The mineral needs careful storage, since it is hydrated, and as water evaporates from the structure the colour turns white. It was first discovered in the Eifel Volcanic Field in Germany (see http://on.fb.me/1nJ2QtO), named in 1874 for the Ettringer volcano that spouted the lava flows which are its type locality. It forms when volcanic rocks intrude into limestones and freeze, baking the surrounding rock into a contact metamorphic aureole and spitting out element laced juices as they slowly freeze. This produces an exotic chemistry as the distillations of crust or mantle encounter limey rocks, forming a mineralogy known as skarns. Here the yellow Ettringite on matrix is accompanied by a lovely octahedron of Manganite, the most common oxide of this element.

Loz

Image credit : Keys Minerals

Rhodochrosite on Manganite Matrix

Size: 5 cm by 6.5 cm by 5 cm

Drawing some of my gemsonas in a fun and cute fashion :>

In order, we have:

Manganite (Rose of Sharon) Morenci Cuprite (Cherry Blossom) Danburite (Crepe Myrtle) Tenorite (Pear Blossom) Utah Agate (Plum Blossom)

I might make more of these at at later time, too!