NEPTUNITE
Rock&Gem Magazine|September 2021
Benitoite’s Uncommon Partner
BOB JONES
NEPTUNITE

Named for the Roman Sea God, Neptunus, neptunite is often found with California State’s official gem mineral benitoite. Neptunite is found with such a bright blue gemmy associate that it is so popular and rare that everyone wants to own benitoite. No wonder neptunite has not been given the attention it deserves. It is understandable that benitoite tends to eclipse neptunite for attention. But neptunite is a beautiful mineral in its own right. It appears as a lustrous, black, opaque crystal on a stark white matrix. Crystals can measure up to two inches with perfectly terminated prismatic faces in nice-sized display specimens.

Neptunite is found in the San Benito Mountains, locked in a contrasting snow-white natrolite matrix. The specimens are very attractive and well worth collecting as the lustrous stark black crystals contrast nicely with blue benitoite and white natrolite matrix.

Neptunite is very complex chemically composed of sodium, potassium, lithium, iron, manganese, titanium silicate. It is also found elsewhere as a high manganese neptunite and so-called mangan-neptunite. This forms when manganese substitutes for some of the iron atoms in neptunite’s chemistry.

The neptunite from California is the iron end member of a series, with mangan-neptunite the opposite member. Localities that yield mangan-neptunite are nepheline syenite pegmatite deposits, unlike the San Benito source.

Esta historia es de la edición September 2021 de Rock&Gem Magazine.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 2021 de Rock&Gem Magazine.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE ROCK&GEM MAGAZINEVer todo
Rockhounding Ohio's Lake Erie Islands
Rock&Gem Magazine

Rockhounding Ohio's Lake Erie Islands

A short ferry boat ride three miles from Ohio’s Lake Erie coastline is South Bass Island, better known as Put-in-Bay or the “Key West of the North.”

time-read
4 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Iowa's Hidden Treasures
Rock&Gem Magazine

Iowa's Hidden Treasures

Exploring Keokuk Geodes: How They're Made & What's Inside

time-read
5 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Agatized CORAL
Rock&Gem Magazine

Agatized CORAL

Florida's Collectible State Stone

time-read
3 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Rockhounding Florida's Beaches
Rock&Gem Magazine

Rockhounding Florida's Beaches

Beachcombing serene stretches of Florida can reveal fascinating finds like fossilized shark teeth, sea glass, quartz, agate and even coral fragments.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Collecting Staurolite
Rock&Gem Magazine

Collecting Staurolite

Hot Spots In Virginia & Georgia

time-read
3 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Pecos Valley Diamonds
Rock&Gem Magazine

Pecos Valley Diamonds

New Mexico's Ancient Attraction

time-read
4 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
12 Tips for Rockhounding Tucson's Greatest Shows
Rock&Gem Magazine

12 Tips for Rockhounding Tucson's Greatest Shows

Tucson in February becomes the international hub for buying and selling colored gems, rocks, minerals and fossils.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Turquoise in the American Southwest
Rock&Gem Magazine

Turquoise in the American Southwest

A Water & Sky Souvenir

time-read
4 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Touring Colorado's MINERAL BELT
Rock&Gem Magazine

Touring Colorado's MINERAL BELT

It's a Showcase of Mining History & Minerals

time-read
6 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Geology &Colorado's Taurish Traiks
Rock&Gem Magazine

Geology &Colorado's Taurish Traiks

Most of Colorado’s tourist trains today were originally constructed in the late 1800s to serve the state’s lucrative mining operations.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024