Allophane

specimen number:
1052481

location:
Gustav Mine, Steinach, Sonneberg, Thuringia, Germany

description:
Light blue lustrous slightly translucent botryoidal allophane covering most of one side of matrix. Very slight damage present, this still in good condition and quite choice for the species. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and dates to the very early 20th century. A fine old time example for the species.

Allophane is an amorphous to poorly crystalline hydrous aluminum silicate mineral that commonly forms as a secondary product of the weathering of volcanic ash and other alumino silicate materials. It typically occurs as soft, earthy, or gel like masses, often displaying colors such as white, pale blue, green, or brown depending on impurities. Allophane is most commonly found in soils and altered volcanic environments, where it develops through the interaction of water with glassy volcanic material under low temperature conditions. Because it lacks a well defined crystal structure, it is classified as a mineraloid rather than a fully crystalline mineral.

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