Analcime

Dean quarry lies adjacent to the sea on the extreme eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula in southern Cornwall.  This aggregate quarry encounters several mineral species amongst which its suite of zeolites is most well known.  This specimen is an excellent example of well-crystallised Analcime, forming snow-white trapezohedron crystals of up to 3.3 cm across, but more typically 1.5 to 2 cm.  There is a little damage to crystals adjacent to the specimen edges, but those forming the majority (including the largest) are complete.  All crystal faces are sharply defined by clean-cut edges and display a good glassy lustre.  As is the case with Dean quarry material, the Analcime is associated with a dark brick-red micro-granular layered matrix.