Description

As cool as ilmenite is, crystals from many of the world’s best localities are not usually sharp and bright. And most display specimens of ilmenite are not rosettes. So this specimen is pretty special – it is a floater of three interlocking rosettes of lustrous ilmenite crystals. There are microscopic tremolite needles and fluorapatite crystals in association. There is an intergrowth of microscopic colourless material on some of the surfaces of the ilmenites, and those surfaces look a bit fuzzier (the same way a chlorite intergrowth affects other alpine envionment crystals). In excellent condition from the display sides, only a couple of small nicks, not easily noticed. On the back side, the largest rosette is damaged. These are sharp crystals, and the lustre is good on the sides (prism faces) as well as the terminations. This is a great ilmenite!