Stellerite with Fluorapophyllite

Zeolites are prone to producing delightful specimens and this Stellerite certainly meets this criteria!  Superb, rich peachy-apricot Stellerite forms hemispherical clusters of typically 1.8 cm diameter over a vuggy, micro-crystalline milky Quartz matrix.  The Stellerite is a delicate, yet vibrant apricot with a bright glassy lustre.  Nestling between some of these clusters are chains of 1 to 2 mm, gemmy tan Fluorapophyllite crystals.  It is a commonly held misconception that Fluorapophyllite is also a member of the zeolite group, probably because it is often associated with zeolites; but is in fact a silicate.  A most attractive and pretty specimen from the Sarbai Deposit near to Rudny, in the Kostanay Region of Kazakhstan.