Fluorescent 18 Harmatome from Argyllshire Scotland

Description

Harmotome (alternate U.S. spelling) on Calcite from Strontian, Argyllshire, Scotland

This is a very rare small cabinet specimen of Harmatome crystals (non fluorescent) on fluorescent orange Calcite. It comes with a vintage label from Gregory Bottley and Co. Geologists in Chelsea London England. Harmotome is a mineral, one of the rarer zeolites. It is a hydrated barium silicate that forms vitreous white well defined monoclinic crystals, often associated with calcite and other zeolites. It was named from the Greek words harmos (a joint) and témnein (to cut) by René Just Haüy in 1801. It was first described in that same year from a find in the Harz Mountains, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Like other zeolites, harmotome occurs with calcite in the amygdaloidal cavities of volcanic rocks, for example, it is found in the lead and silver veins; and at Strontian in Argyll in lead veins, associated with brewsterite (a strontium and barium zeolite), barytes and calcite.

Specimen weighs 2.92 oz or 0.18 lbs (82 g) and measures 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.3 inches (6.3 x 3.7 x 3.3 cm)