Prehnite: Merelani Hills District, Simanjiro, Manyara, Tanzania

Description

Species: Prehnite

Locality: Merelani Hills District, Simanjiro, Manyara, Tanzania

Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 2.4 cm.

This is a superb cabinet-size specimen of lustrous, gemmy, sharp mint-green prehnite crystals with minor graphite from the famous gem deposits at Merelani Hills, Simanjiro District, Manyara, Tanzania. While much better-known for it’s world-class tanzanite crystals, Merelani has also produced some of the world’s finest and most distinctive prehnite crystals, and this is an excellent example in fine condition, with large, blocky, gemmy, lustrous prehnite crystals forming attractive “rosettes” in fine condition. For this species this is “as good as it gets!” Mark Cross photo.