Mesolite

specimen number:
2062747

location:
Pune, Maharashtra, India

description:
A loose cluster of thick prismatic sharply terminated lustrous and gemmy mesolite crystals. Complete all around, no matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Pune, located in western India, rests upon the vast basaltic expanse of the Deccan Traps, which formed through massive volcanic flood basalt eruptions roughly 65 million years ago. Over geologic time, cooling lava developed cavities and vesicles that were later infiltrated by mineral-rich groundwater, fostering the growth of magnificent secondary crystal deposits. While the region does not feature traditional metal mining, its extraction history is deeply tied to commercial stone quarrying and infrastructure projects—notably railway tunnel construction during the British era—which accidentally exposed hollow cavities filled with world-class mineral specimens. Today, Pune is internationally renowned for these rich deposits, particularly stunning collections of high-quality zeolites such as stilbite and heulandite, often found alongside striking silicate companions like green apophyllite.

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