Gyrolite with Fluorapophyllite-K, Prehnite
specimen number:
2072322
location:
Kandivali Quarry, Mumbai, India
description: The Kandivali quarry, located within the northern suburbs of Mumbai, India, is situated in the extensive basaltic flows of the Deccan Traps. Geologically, these volcanic rocks contain numerous amygdaloidal cavities and vesicles formed by trapped gases during the solidification of lava, which were later filled by secondary minerals precipitated from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. The site is a classic locality for gyrolite, a calcium silicate hydrate mineral that typically forms as white, pearly, radiating spherical crystal groupings often associated with other zeolites and apophyllite. Historically, the area has been subject to intense industrial quarrying for basalt to support the massive infrastructure and construction demands of the expanding Mumbai metropolis. While organized stone extraction has been active for many decades throughout the 20th century, the Kandivali sites became particularly famous among mineralogists for their prolific output of fine silicate specimens during the 1960s and 1970s. As of 2026, many of the original quarrying operations in this specific district have been curtailed or closed due to urban encroachment and environmental regulations, but the material recovered during their peak remains a benchmark for the species globally.
White crystallized balls of gyrolite to 0.5 cm in size across the top of a prehnite crystal matrix. Mostly gemmy crystals of pseudo-cubic fluorapophyllite to 2.0 cm in size are scattered across. In good condition.
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