Stilbite with Heulandite

specimen number:
8311417

location:
Maharashtra, India

description:
A large lustrous double terminated crystal of stilbite 11.0 cm in length on matrix with many smaller crystals of stilbite. This is in super condition.

The state of Maharashtra in western India is globally renowned for its prolific production of stilbite, primarily found within the vast basaltic flows of the Deccan Traps. Geologically, these minerals formed approximately 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period as volcanic lavas cooled and gas bubbles left behind cavities known as vesicles. Over millions of years, hydrothermal fluids rich in silica and aluminum circulated through these openings, precipitating stilbite as characteristic bow-tie or wheat-sheaf shaped crystal aggregates, often in a pearly white, peach, or salmon color. Historically, mining and quarrying in the region have been driven by massive infrastructure projects, with basalt being extracted for road metal and construction aggregate throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. While mineral specimens are a byproduct of these industrial activities, significant systematic recovery of stilbite and other zeolites from districts like Jalgaon, Pune, and Nasik surged in the 1970s to meet international collector demand. As of 2026, Maharashtra remains the most significant source of world-class stilbite specimens, with active quarries continuing to yield high-quality material during routine basalt excavation.

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