Brucite

specimen number:
2133247

location:
Nisai, Muslim Bagh Ophiolite, Balochistan, Pakistan

description:

Gorgeous lustrous yellow botryoidal translucent brucite in a cluster without matrix. The color on this is outstanding, the piece is in great condition. Superb for the species.

Nisai, located in the Killa Saifullah District of Balochistan, Pakistan, is a premier global locality for high-quality brucite specimens. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite complex, a massive assembly of ultramafic rocks that represents a fragment of ancient oceanic lithosphere obducted onto the continental margin. The brucite forms through the hydrothermal alteration of magnesium-rich rocks like dunite and peridotite, occurring as thick veins and crystalline masses within serpentinized zones. The specimens from Nisai are famous for their vibrant colors, ranging from intense canary yellow to translucent white and pale green, often exhibiting a distinctive waxy or pearly luster. Historically, while the region has a long history of chromite mining dating back to the early 20th century, the specialized extraction of brucite for the mineral market gained significant international momentum in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mining remains largely artisanal or small-scale, but the area continues to be a major producer of world-class magnesium hydroxide crystals for collectors and researchers alike.

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