Paphos Life

Goodevening to all of you! Today i would like to show you some pics regarding one of the most beautiful Zeolite crystals from the world-wide famous locality of Avdellero village in Larnaka: the natrolite crystal. Natrolite owes its name to the presence of Sodium (Natro-) element within the rock matrix (rock: -lite; lithos) in a chemical combination of Silica tetrahedra and aluminum. The crystal habit is radial; crystals radiating out of a single core, which is sometimes pinky, white, or any other color according to the oxides present in the rock-matrix. Natrolite from Cyprus has been characterized as having one of the best qualities worldwide! It can be found generally in any lower pillow lava throughout Troodos hills, but the locality with the most fascinating crystals is with no doubt avdellero village in Larnaka. Enjoy!

Natrolite balls with analcime background: Analcime covered in iron oxides with two natrolite spreads: Thomsonite balls cluster: Very rare

Those are really incredible crystals which I know nothing about, but they are really beautiful and quite stunning...you make me want to start a new hobby lol.

Cherry345 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:08 am Those are really incredible crystals which I know nothing about, but they are really beautiful and quite stunning...you make me want to start a new hobby lol.

Thank you very much! Its free, fascinating, athletic, fun, and a -never going home empty handed- hobby!!

I enjoyed breaking this rock:
     
The other half was interesting too.
   

Nice rock exhibiting zeolite crystals! The (transparent) background is analcime; what i cannot figure out is what type of crystal is the accicular one!! I have never, ever seen anything like that!!

Judging by the accicular nature, and the spikey termination i would guess (a rough guess) that

1. It is a strange form of barite (which i dont think so, as barite forms blades)
2. A strange form of a mineral in natrolite family (natrolite and scolecite have both rectangular termination, not spikey!)

It seems to be scalenohedral calcite (90%)! But wow what a shape! This can be easily verified with a drop of vinegar, if it fizzes, its calcite!