Artinite

specimen number:
2063578

location:
San Benito Co., California, USA

description:
Choice example for the species, sparkling white groupings of acicular artinite crystals in a grouping 2.0 x 1.6 x 1.0 cm in size perfectly set on matrix. In great condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Located within the Coast Ranges of California, San Benito County is world-renowned for its complex serpentine belt, formed by subduction zone metamorphism and hydrothermal fluid activity. Hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic serpentinite rocks created unique mineral veins and cavities throughout the region, most notably around the New Idria district and the Clear Creek area. Commercial mining in the county historically focused on mercury extraction from cinnabar, as well as asbestos, which exposed numerous rare secondary mineral formations. Among these secondary species is artinite, a hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral that forms delicate, bright white silky acicular radiating sprays inside fractures of altered serpentinite. Although the county is best known as the type locality for benitoite, collectors highly prize the fine artinite specimens produced from local asbestos and mercury operations, though public access today is heavily restricted due to environmental and safety regulations.

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