Fluorapophyllite-K with Stilbite

specimen number:
2072390

location:
Nashik, Maharashtra, India

description:

Colorless translucent pseudo-cubic crystals of fluorapophyllite to 2.5 cm in size across the top of matrix with crystals of stilbite. In good condition with some cleaving present.

The quarries near Nashik, located in the Maharashtra state of India, are situated within the sprawling basaltic flows of the Deccan Traps. Geologically, these quarries expose thick layers of volcanic rock where cooling gas bubbles formed amygdaloidal cavities, which were later filled by secondary minerals precipitated from hydrothermal fluids. The area is world-renowned for its exceptional zeolite specimens, particularly large, translucent crystals of green apophyllite, pearly stilbite, and salmon-colored heulandite. Historically, mining and quarrying in the Nashik region were established primarily for the extraction of basalt to be used as road metal and construction aggregate. While localized stone extraction has occurred for generations, the systematic recovery of high-quality mineral specimens for the international market gained significant momentum in the 1970s and 1980s. As of 2026, many of these quarries, such as those in the Sinnar or Pandulena areas, remain active industrial sites that continue to provide a steady supply of world-class mineral groups prized for their size and aesthetic crystal habits.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.