ERYTHRITE
Specimen ery-3
$ 40.00Dims: 2.0" x 2.0" x 1.1"(5.1 x 5.1 x 2.8 cm)
Wt: 2.50 oz.(70.9 g)
Alamos, Sonora, Mexico
This specimen is what comes to mind when I think of the nickname "cobalt bloom". It is partially covered with a "carpet" made up of hundreds of acicular, radiating Erythrite crystals. These crystals don't exceed 0.1"(3 mm) in length, but are easy to see, even without magnification. They are colored a dark violet-red, have a pearly to vitreous luster, and are translucent. Parts of this carpet show damage in the form of crushed crystals, but most of it is in excellent condition. The specimen has a few veins of the material running through it, and is rather delicate, so that care should be used when handling it. The host rock is flaky and definitely rust-colored. I really like the needle-like crystals- when one looks at them with a loupe or magnifier, it seems like a different world down there.