FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Don Lum]

My wife found these neat crystals behind my office yesterday and took these pictures. She left it up to me to identify them.

[Peter Megaw]

Interesting nucleation on the pine needles...at first I thought we might be dealing with a new Evergreen Twin law of some kind!

Certainly the most common ephemeral mineral with the flexibility of its ready transitions from crystalline to liquid to gaseous state being the fundamental basis of our very existence.

Given that a human being is about 93% composed of these molecules it might be a tough call as to whether superb crystals like this...or an uncrystallized assemblage of the same stuff that comprises a less rigidly ordered woman or man is more beautiful. Actually, for myself and I suspect/hope for most of us, despite our passion for minerals our love for our partners in crime...or at least facilitators...trumps hard cold crystals.

Happy Holidays Allison...and to you all...and may you remain uncrystallized for some time to come!

[Pierre Joubert]

Excellent Don! Interesting photos. Your wife has good humor. It looks like you work in beautiful surroundings.

I must just add, beautiful words Peter!

[Mark Ost]

Of course these very rare minerals are only stable at the pressure and temperature regime that they formed at. Any variance will cause a phase shift that may alter the habit of this mineral making it somewhat less valuable as an economic basis for national currency standards. That said, there are those who feel this to be one of the only constants in a highly dynamic monetary market. Long used as an adulterant for alcohol in certain industrial processes familiar to any geologist worth the title, it has retained it's value over an extended period of time and nationalities. Early reports of a process that turns this mineral into wine have proved difficult to replicate.

[Don Lum]

[Don Lum]

Thanks for your comments, Pierre and Mark. When I first saw these crystals I thought of Japan Law Twin. I did not have my protractor handy, however, so I didn't measure the angle.

Don

[Ed Huskinson]

Nice photo of Allison, Pete. Thanks for sharing.

Ed in Kingman