White Stilbite on Iron-Stained Chalcedony – Maharashtra, India – 100 grams

An unusual White Stilbite on Iron-Stained Chalcedony specimen from Maharashtra, India, featuring a substantial rounded zeolite formation supported by translucent brown chalcedony. Mounted upright on a custom display base, the specimen presents two distinctly different appearances and reveals multiple stages of mineral growth.

The display face is dominated by creamy white to pale ivory stilbite arranged in densely intergrown, radiating blades. Overlapping crystal groups create rounded fan-like and sheaf-like formations with a softly pearly luster. Under direct lighting, translucent edges reveal subtle internal structure and warm golden illumination.

The reverse exposes translucent gray-brown chalcedony marked by rusty orange and dark iron-rich inclusions. Its irregular lobes, recessed areas, and crystal-shaped contours suggest that the silica developed around earlier mineral growth. Although the specimen has a pseudomorphic or cast-like appearance, confirming complete mineral replacement would require analytical examination.

Maharashtra’s Deccan Traps are internationally recognized for associations of stilbite, heulandite, chalcedony, apophyllite, calcite, and other secondary minerals formed inside ancient volcanic cavities. Both stilbite and heulandite commonly occur alongside chalcedony within these basalt-hosted deposits. 
Measuring approximately 2 × 2 × 3.5 inches and weighing 100 grams, this compact mounted specimen offers excellent height and considerable visual interest. Its luminous white stilbite, translucent iron-stained chalcedony, contrasting textures, and dramatically different front and reverse make it a distinctive collector display.

Specifications

Minerals: Stilbite with Chalcedony

Locality: Maharashtra, India

Weight: 100 grams (approximately 0.22 lbs)

Dimensions: Approximately 2 × 2 × 3.5 inches

Color: Creamy white, pale ivory, translucent gray-brown, orange, and dark brown

Crystal Habit: Radiating bladed stilbite in rounded sheaf-like aggregates

Luster: Pearly to vitreous stilbite with waxy-to-glassy chalcedony

Transparency: Translucent to opaque stilbite with translucent chalcedony areas

Matrix: Iron-stained chalcedony with natural mineral inclusions

Formation: Multistage zeolite and silica association with cast-like surface features

Mounting: Affixed to a custom display base produced in-house

Condition: Natural mineral specimen with inherent contacts, inclusions, irregularities, and mineral staining

Display: Upright thumbnail-to-miniature specimen

Exact specimen shown

About Stilbite and Chalcedony

Stilbite is a hydrated aluminosilicate belonging to the zeolite group. It commonly forms flattened blades, radiating sheaves, rounded fans, and characteristic bowtie-like aggregates. Its pearly luster and softly curved crystal groupings distinguish it from the more tabular or coffin-shaped habit commonly associated with heulandite.

Chalcedony is a microcrystalline silica material composed predominantly of extremely fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite. It may form as coatings, cavity linings, rounded masses, stalactites, and mineral casts. Iron-bearing inclusions and surface coatings can produce the amber, orange, and dark brown coloration visible on this specimen.

A pseudomorph forms when one mineral replaces another while preserving the original mineral’s external shape. This specimen displays suggestive cast-like contours, but its precise growth sequence cannot be established conclusively through photographs alone.

Collector Notes

This specimen features:

• Creamy white radiating stilbite
• Rounded sheaf-like and fan-like crystal aggregates
• Pearly reflections across the display face
• Translucent crystal edges with warm internal illumination
• Contrasting gray-brown chalcedony on the reverse
• Natural orange and dark iron-rich inclusions
• Irregular cast-like contours within the chalcedony
• Evidence of multiple mineralization stages
• Dramatically different front and reverse appearances
• Classic Maharashtra zeolite and silica association
• Custom display base produced in-house
• Compact dimensions with strong upright presence
• One-of-a-kind natural mineral formation
• Exact specimen pictured

Perfect for collectors of stilbite, chalcedony, Indian zeolites, Maharashtra minerals, Deccan Traps specimens, mineral casts, pseudomorphic-looking formations, mounted specimens, and unusual multistage mineral associations.

Professionally packaged and shipped from Colorado.

You will receive the exact specimen shown.

Every order is backed by our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Thank you for supporting our family-owned small business.