Dendrites, in agateHere we have a beautiful cut piece of near transparent chalcedony (microcrystalli
Dendrites, in agateHere we have a beautiful cut piece of near transparent chalcedony (microcrystalline silica), also known as agate (and named as such a long time ago in the 300’s BCE by the philosopher and naturalist Theophrastus after the river Achates (now Dorillo) on the isle of Sicily on whose banks it was plentifully found. In this case crystals of a metallic oxide (probably manganese and/or iron) grew through the stone in a natural fractalic tree like pattern (dendron being the ancient Greek for tree). They grew into the supercooled silica gel as it was congealing, with the crystal growth in effect chasing its component elements through the substrate following the ambient chemical gradient until it was all used up. LozImage credit: Chip Clarkhttps://www.mindat.org/min-7599.html -- source link
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