Analcime

specimen number:
2063675

location:
Croft Quarry, Croft, Blaby, Leicestershire, England, UK

description:
Good thumbnail for the species and locality, several glassy mostly gemmy crystals of analcime, the largest 1.4 cm across, set nicely up on matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with three previous collection labels, including one from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Croft Quarry, located near Blaby in Leicestershire, England, works a massive igneous intrusion of microdiorite or markfieldite that intruded into surrounding Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks over 560 million years ago. Mining and quarrying at the site date back to Roman times, when the tough, fine-grained stone was extracted for building material and road construction, eventually expanding into a major modern industrial operation. Mineral collectors value the quarry for its diverse assembly of primary and secondary minerals found within altered joints, veins, and cavities, including calcite, analcime, quartz, baryte, and various copper and iron species. Extensive quarrying over centuries exposed rich geological faulting and mineralized zones, making it one of the most famous and well-studied mineral localities in the East Midlands.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.