What a floaterCrystal that grow in cavities in lava or cooling pegmatites (the late stages of a cool
What a floaterCrystal that grow in cavities in lava or cooling pegmatites (the late stages of a cooling granite) are usually attached to the wall on which they precipitated. Removing them without damage from the mother rock is always a delicate operation, so miners are always happy when they find a pocket (usually clay filled) with unattached crystals inside that can just be taken and washed without elaborate preparation (and far too often discrete repair, which should be declared down the sale chain). Such crystals are known as floaters, and are often doubly terminated like this stunning 6.2 x 3.3 x 2.6 cm aquamarine sceptre crystal from the Gilgit region of Pakistan.LozImage credit: Image credit: Joe Budd/ Rob Lavinsky/iRocks.com -- source link
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