Amblygonite, Divina das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Amblygonite; the name roles off your tongue! Well that is probably not true but it is certainly beautiful. This mineral is a rare lithium aluminum phosphate first discovered in Germany in 1817, but the best collector-quality specimens are from Brazil. This large specimen has a bold yellow colour and is fully crystallized (except for a basal cleavage). At first glance it does not appear to be crystallized as claimed but a close inspection reveals faces on all sides. A large, colourful example of the species. Rob Belcher collection. From: Divina das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 4.5 cm