Babingtonite with Quartz, Prehnite

specimen number:
5002007

location:
Qiaojia, Zhaotong, Yunnan, China

description:

Outstanding example for the species with semi lustrous large black crystals of babingtonite measuring to 3.3 cm in size set beautifully across the top of this crystallized quartz matrix with light green botryoidal crystallized prehnite. The specimen is in great condition.

Qiaojia County, located within the Zhaotong Prefecture of Yunnan Province, China, emerged in the mid-2000s as a significant locality for mineral specimens. Geologically, the deposits are situated within complex regional tectonic belts where hydrothermal fluids have interacted with volcanic and sedimentary rocks, forming open vugs and pockets that favor the growth of rare silicate minerals. Mineralogically, the area is celebrated for producing world-class specimens of babingtonite, an inosilicate, yielding sharp, jet-black, highly lustrous crystals that frequently form dramatic crystal clusters contrasted against pale green prehnite and quartz. Historically, rather than originating from a single industrial corporate mine, the material was recovered through localized artisanal and specimen-mining efforts that began around the mid-2000s, permanently redefining global standards for the size and quality of the species.

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