#gobbinsite

[millenialwitch-blog]

I’d like to share with you a little known rock - Gobbinsite.

I’m originally from Ireland and Gobbinsite is a rare zeolite mineral that occurs near my home town. Its only known occurrence is  my home town, and in Quebec, Canada. 

Gobbinsite was once basalt - basically molten lava solidified under intense heat and pressure. This is the dark core of the stone you can see above. But over hundreds and thousands of years this basalt has been exposed to the sea and in the holes and crevices minerals have solidified forming the varied, spotted stone you see now. Phillipsite is the interstitial stone. 

Due to its rarity the internet is not particularly helpful when it comes to its correspondences. If any one knows any more please comment!! But from my work with it it corresponds with strength and flexibility. Its great for grounding work and for encouraging understanding of nature. 

and for me personally - it connects me to my home. 

[bijoux-et-mineraux]

Rare Psm Petersenite-(Ce) Gobbinsite & Analcime - Mont Saint Hilaire, Québec, Canada

This has been labeled as a pseudomorph after petersenite-(Ce), but the only thing that is certain is that it is “interesting”. The shape suggests petersenite-(Ce), and the surface texture suggests that the crystal was first replaced by synchysite-(Ce). But unless one is willing to poke a hole in the “crystal”, and unless there is relict material in the interior – something that is not very likely – there is no way to be sure. Remondite-(Ce) and calcioburbankite are other possibilities – among others.

The specimen is from the Poudretee pegmatite - famous for many rare minerals. And infamous for many maddening pseudomorphs.