VALENTINITE
Specimen val-2

Dims: 1.9 x 1.5 x 1.4" (4.8 x 3.9 x 3.7 cm)

Wt: 7.3 oz. (208 g)

Pribram, Czech Republic

Many very small Valentinite blades rest on the galena base of this hand specimen. These crystals do not exceed 0.2" (5 mm) in length, and most are half that length or less. They are in fair to good condition, as most appear to be damaged to some extent, and their orthorhombic form, though heavily intergrown, appears to be good. All have a milky-white coloration and a very bright, pearly luster that reminds me of cerussite. The galena base is definitely crystalline, but no isolated crystals are present.

Dims: 1.10x0.78x0.65" (2.80x1.98x1.65cm)

Wt: 0.51oz (14.4g)

Cerro Rico de Potosi, Bolivia

This dull black rock is host to both a matting of fine translucent valentinite crystals and several clusters of fibrous yet transparent valentinite crystals. The latter are quite rare, as they are large enough to examine, at least with a 15x loupe! There is also a non-crystalline white crust present, which I believe is not valentinite, and is difficult to differentiate except with a loupe which reveals the fine individual crystals in a mat-like array of valentinite.