When at a loss but feeling like sharing something with friends and folks who care, I often post a photo, often a special rock. Here’s one from Tucson last February, one that may not seem that special unless you look closely and think how it was formed.

From the label: “VANADINITE scattered red hexagonal XLS on black GOETHITE-coated BARITE XLS, with bright white CALCITE microXLS Mibladen district, 2019, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet
Region, Morocco
Collection of William B. Wray”

The orange crystals are common in Arizona, as is the calcite and barite. BUT the amazing matrix (host rock) is barite in tabular clusters of crystals AND THEN the dark goethite came and coated those rounded clusters! And the calcite came and coated on top the thin layer of sparkly white and transparent crystals. AND THEN the distinctive dark orange crystals came as if sprinkled on top of all this. The rest is history. At least as far as time and pressure and weight and more mineral deposits may have buried this piece.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about of this piece I knew was special. Do look close. The 3 XLS or XL descriptions also tip off the composition here. XL = crystal and XLS = crystals. This is different than masses or deposits. These call out how special this piece from Morocco is.
#Crystals #Crystal #Minerals #Specimen #Rock #Tucson #iPhone