RHABDOPHANE
Specimen rha-2

Dims: 1.2 x 0.4 x 0.3" (3.0 x 1.1 x 0.8 cm)

Wt: 6 g w/ base

Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Two Rhabophane crystals make up the bulk of this thumbnail specimen. The larger of these is much larger than the other, measuring 1.2 x 0.3 x 0.2" (3.0 x 0.8 x 0.6 cm). Both are in excellent condition, showing no human-induced damage, and have indeterminate hexagonal form, taking on irregular, columnar habit. They have a common red-brown color and dull luster, and are hot-glued directly to the acrylic base, as there is no host rock present.

Dims:1.5x1.2x1.0" (3.8x3.0x2.5 cm)

Wt: 1.1oz. (30g)w/base

Mt. St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

This specimen consists of several sheath-like bundles of rhabdophane crystals growing on and through large, well-formed analcime crystals. There is also a good crystal of serandite present on this specimen, as well as a tiny amount of an unidentified powdery-white mineral. The hexagonal form of this mineral cannot be ascertained from merely observing this specimen, however, this is an excellent example of this species. There is no damage to this specimen. It is firmly glued to a clear acrylic base.

Dims: 1.1x0.7x0.9" (2.8x1.8x2.3 cm)

Wt: 0.4 oz. (11.3g)

Mt. St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

This thumbnail specimen is Rhabdophane-(La), as the rare earth is predominantly Lanthanum. This specimen includes at least 3 other minerals. The accompanying documentation reads "Rhabdophane-(La) and Dalyite", and I suspect that the dalyite is either the base (sprays of acicular colorless needles), or the cluster at one end (colorless parallel crystals that look more cubic than hexagonal to me), or the tiny crystals on top of that cluster (clearly hexagonal colorless transparent crystals). There is also some tiny perfect purple cubes (visible with a loupe) that look like fluorite. The Rhabdophane is several sprays of pale gray-green translucent acicular crystals perched on top of the specimen. These rare-earth specimens from Mount Saint Hilaire are often a hodge-podge of rare minerals.