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MD-121689 - Artinite - - Archived New Idria Mine (New Idria group; New Hope vein), Idria, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA cabinet, 11.8 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm.
11.8 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm. A large, pretty specimen of fibrous, stark white artinite (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide), from California. It forms as a crust of acicular to fibrous crystal aggregates sometimes collected into tight perfectly spherical balls (as here). People are usually surprised when told that it is a carbonate, because it has the appearance of several silicate minerals and forms in a somewhat atypical carbonate environment.
MD-148070 - Artinite - - Archived New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA small cabinet, 9.2 x 5.2 x 1.5 cm.
9.2 x 5.2 x 1.5 cm. An absolutely pristine ball of California artinite (Zinn Coll. #1077). Artinite is a rather rare and lesser-known carbonate mineral (though it LOOKS a lot like some well-known zeolite minerals) that sometimes forms these perfect balls of radiating, fibrous crystals. Its chemical formula is Mg2CO3(OH)2 + 3H2O (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide). HUGE ball of artinite here!
MD-179409 - Artinite - - Archived Artinite pit, Clear Creek area, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA small cabinet, 6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0 cm.
6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0 cm. Artinite is a rare magnesium carbonate found in low-temperature hydrothermal environments as veinlets or crusts along fracture surfaces in serpentinized ultrabasic rocks. Silky, snow-white needles and coalesced balls of pastel-green artinite cover the thin matrix plate on this very rich and showy specimen from the Artinite Pit of San Benito County, California. Ex. John Ydren Collection.
MD-179866 - Artinite, Desautelsite - - Archived New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA miniature, 4.7 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm.
4.7 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm. This is a fine, snow white, cotton-like artinite sphere, 1.7 cm across, perched high on contrasting matrix. Ex. Martin Zinn Collection.
MD-180046 - Artinite - - Archived New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA small cabinet, 5.2 x 4.8 x 3.4 cm.
5.2 x 4.8 x 3.4 cm. Sharp white puffballs of extremely fine needle-like crystals, on a solid display face. Nice example of crystallized artinite in discrete form. Ex. Martin Zinn Collection.
MD-192576 - Artinite - - Archived New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA cabinet, 9.9 x 6.9 x 6.4 cm.
9.9 x 6.9 x 6.4 cm. A rich and very fine specimen of California artinite. It is a rather rare carbonate mineral (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide). It forms as a crust of fibrous crystal aggregates sometimes collected into tight balls. It is always associated with ultra-basic igneous and metamorphic rocks such as serpentinite. Ex. Richard Hauck Collection.
MD-206168 - Artinite - - Archived Artinite pit, Clear Creek area, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA small cabinet, 5.9 x 5.1 x 4.4 cm.
5.9 x 5.1 x 4.4 cm. Artinite (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide) forms as a crust of acicular to fibrous crystal aggregates, sometimes forming velvety balls, as with this superb specimen that was in the notable collection of James and Dawn Minette. These are California classics, though many collectors are not aware of this unusual carbonate (it looks a lot more like many silicates - certainly not a typical-looking carbonate). A really pretty example, in fine condition.
MD-217510 - Artinite - - Archived Santa Rita (Union Carbide Nuclear; Santa Rita Asbestos; Joe 5 Pit; Joe 7-5 Mine), New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA cabinet, 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.7 cm.
10.9 x 8.8 x 0.7 cm. A large plate of California artinite, with the typical micro-acicular crystals that appear almost as a soft white fuzz. A large piece for the locality. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.
MD-263202 - Artinite - - Archived New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA cabinet, 13.9 x 10.3 x 5.8 cm.
13.9 x 10.3 x 5.8 cm. Artinite is a fairly uncommon carbonate that is strangely acicular, and certainly resembles members of the Zeolite group such as Mesolite or Scolecite. This is a classic specimen from San Benito County featuring thousands of small, sparkling, white, delicate, "fuzzy", slender crystals of Artinite on a contrasting pale green Serpentine matrix. A very nice full-sized cabinet specimen of this well known material. The specimen is from the collection of now deceased Colorado geologist, Allen Heyl (Aheylite).
MD-67884 - Artinite - - Archived San Benito Co., California, USA small cabinet, 5.5 x 3.3 x 1.4 cm
You do not see many of these San Benito artinites around. This one is in really good shape, especially considering the delicateness of them (they are tight fuzzballs of thousands of tiny acicular crystals aggregated into mounds). Nice old California piece! 5.5 x 3.3 x 1.4 cm
MRZ227 - Artinite - $ 100 SOLD San Benito Co., California miniature, 5.2 x 4.8 x 3.4 cm ex. Martin Zinn
Sharp white puffballs of extremely fine needle-like crystals, on a solid display face. Nice example of crystallized artinite in discrete form, as opposed to the solid blobs we so often see from this area.
MRZ318 - Artinite on Desautelite - $ 125 SOLD San Benito County, California miniature, 4.7 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm ex. Martin Zinn
When aesthetics are mentioned about a particular matrix specimen, they refer to things like this incredible snow white, cotton-like, artinite sphere, 1.7 cm across. Perched high on the contrasting matrix, the artinite is just breathtaking. All Content and Design ©1996-2010 The ArkenstoneBy-species Galleries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
