NATURAL ZINCITE CRYSTALS
Silesia, Poland
This remarkable cluster is a natural growth of zincite crystals, a rare zinc oxide formed by accident by the zinc smelters of Silesia in Poland: cracks in the smelter walls allowed just the right conditions for zincite crystals to form on the inside of the smoke stacks, with changes in temperature and air pressure inside the furnace creating conditions to support spontaneous growth of these crystals in air vents and chimney channels. Amazingly detailed, delicate, and varied in form, this specimen also displays a dramatic variety of colors, from soft blue-gray, to pale yellow-green, with numerous crystals of golden orange and a delightful deep orange-red. A highly aesthetic specimen, it measures approximately 10 x 15 x 5 1/2 inches overall, and weighs 32 lb.