Beautiful 3.2" Roselite and Calcite Crystals on Matrix - Morocco

This specimen contains pockets of small deep-magenta colored roselite crystals, along with sharp terminated calcite crystals. Both minerals can be found in various locations around the specimen, though the majority of the crystals can be found seemingly flooding outward from small cavities in the dolomite matrix.

Roselite is an arsenate mineral in the monoclinic crystal system. It gained its name not from the rose color it generally exhibits, but was in fact named in honor of a German mineralogist by the name of Gustav Rose. However, the name is quite fitting, since roselite typically displays a vitreous rose-red to pink color. Darker crystals have been known to frequently display marked color zoning due to variations in molecular composition.

Roselite has the chemical formula Ca2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2O, meaning it contains arsenic. While it doesn't pose an immediate health risk from purely handling, ingestion in significant amounts and/or crushing and inhaling roselite can be toxic. For this reason, we suggest washing hands after handling and keeping out of reach of children.


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Roselite & Calcite
LOCATION
Bou Azer District, Morocco
SIZE
3.2" long, 3.0" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#44765