Stilbite - Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

A beautiful cluster of peach to salmon-pink stilbite-Ca crystals arranged in broad radiating fans and sheaf-like formations. The overlapping bladed crystals display a soft pearly lustre, delicate parallel growth lines and an attractive sculptural form. Those who have seen this piece in person describe it as resembling a bushel of wheat or a bunch of broccoli or even a mushroom cloud explosion. What do you see?

The Jalgaon District is a classic locality within India’s Deccan volcanic province and is internationally known for producing exceptional zeolite specimens such as this. Stilbite-Ca from this region commonly develops in radiating sheaves, bow-ties and rosettes within cavities in basalt.

The accompanying collection label uses the traditional name “stilbite”, however it is more specifically catalogued as stilbite-Ca under current IMA naming conventions. This specimen comes from the Bill Rouslin Collection, where it was recorded as specimen #989. Additional dealer labels, including one from Treasure Mountain Mining, are included.

Mineral: Stilbite-Ca
Crystal System: Monoclinic (pseudo-orthorhombic)
Mineral Class: Tectosilicates (Zeolite Group)
Locality: Jalgaon District, Nashik Division, Maharashtra, India
Short Wave Ultraviolet response: Yellow-brown
Provenance: Ex Bill Rouslin Collection
Additional labels: Treasure Mountain Mining and another earlier dealer label
Dimensions: 9 cm × 9 cm