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Identity HelpMineral from Iceland

8th Aug 2014 23:52 UTCAdam Knapp

Hello

Today I received this mineral as a gift.

The person I got it from said she collected it while in Iceland, in the Westfjords region.

It conists of a bunch of cloudy white/clear rhombs on a base of some fibrous/acicular brown botryoids.

Any idea on identity? The rhombs appear to be either calcite or chabazite, I did a hardness test with a piece of fluorite that seems to indicate chabazite, though I still need to do an acid test to confirm.

As for the base mineral... Its certainly mysterious. The mindat page for the region says thomsonite occurs there so I'm kinda leaning towards that, but it's really a mystery.

Here are some pics:
http://i.imgur.com/v0xw9En.jpg

The piece
http://i.imgur.com/SCvLfKJ.jpg

Sort of closer look at one of the rhombs
http://i.imgur.com/oSUpfb9.jpg

back of the specimen

9th Aug 2014 13:17 UTCVolker Betz 🌟 Expert

Hi,

it lokks like chabazite with thomsonite.

Volker

9th Aug 2014 14:22 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Adam! :)-D

I believe you have nailed it with chabazite/thomsonite.

If you do test the chabazite with acid be careful with the thomsonite as it will dissolve in most acids.

9th Aug 2014 14:23 UTCsteven garza

Dear Adam;

Although, by sight, I agree with Volker, I would still not rule out calcite. If you would put a drop of vinegar on one of the rhombs, that would sort things out; it fizzes - it's calcite - it doesn't - it's chabazite.

Your friend, Steve

21st Sep 2014 08:26 UTCPhilippe Russo

Has anyone serious references on golden citrine found in Iceland?

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