Minerals
1. Mesolite
The needle-like crystals of this mesolite deposit from India give it a dandelion’s form. Its crystalline structure formed inside a bubble of volcanic gas as igneous rock cooled. Mesolite’s many striking crystal formations make it a popular mineral for collectors.
2. Azurite
Azurite crystals from Arizona seem to pulse with color. The mineral azurite—a copper ore—consists of blue basic carbonate. Azurite’s brilliant color adds to its popularity in creating semiprecious stones.
3. Pink Chalcedony
A pink chalcedony shows off its beauty. Chalcedonies include many types of cryptocrystalline quartz gems and feature a number of different colors. Geologists can tell a chalcedony from the arrangement and structure of its crystals.
4. Malachite
Malachite from a Zambian mine seems to take the form of rounded peas. Found in deposits of copper ore, malachite gets its name from the Greek word for its leafy green color, which can range from light to dark green. The mineral malachite contains the elements copper, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.
(via scinerds)
The iridium layer, or K/T Boundary
The thin, grey claystone layer contains 1,000 times more iridium (REE) than the layers above and below, along with shocked quartz. Iridium is extremely rare on Earth, but a very common/abundant element in asteroids. This layer has been identified in 100+ places around the Earth.
This boundary marks the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.
Calcite With Pyrite (by crownedrose)
Here’s one of my newest specimens! It’s pretty big, and perfect to showcase the detail of the ‘sprinkles’ of pyrite. More photos to come!
