Staurolite

specimen number:
1115294

location:
Crystal Cross Mt., Park Co., Montana, USA

description:
A fine loose twinned crystal grouping of staurolite. In great condition.

Crystal Cross Mountain, located in Park County, Montana, is a prominent landmark named for the abundant staurolite crystals weathering out of its local metamorphic strata. Geologically, the area is composed of Precambrian pelitic schists and gneisses that underwent regional regional metamorphism, creating ideal middle-crustal P-T conditions for aluminum silicate and iron-bearing mineral growth. Mineralogically, the locality is famous for producing well-formed staurolite crystals, frequently exhibiting distinct 60-degree and 90-degree penetration twins that resemble crosses, earning them widespread attention from mineral collectors. Because the site is primarily a geologic and geographic occurrence rather than a commercial enterprise, it has no formal industrial mining history or recorded opening and closing dates, instead serving historically as a renowned mineral collecting and academic study destination.

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