Black AEGIRINE crystals that have grown in salmon-pink SERANDITE. From the famous locality of Mont Saint-Hilaire in Quebec, Canada.

AEGIRINE is a sodium iron silicate mineral with hardness of 6 and in the Monoclinic crystal system.

SERANDITE is a sodium, manganese silicate mineral. Serandite is a member of the  Wollastonite group and is the manganese analogue of Pectolite (e.g., Larimar). Serandite belongs to the Triclinic crystal system. Hardness is 5 – 5.5 on the Mohs scale. 

Location: Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Mont Saint-Hilaire is one of the most famous mineral localities in the world. Some 430 valid minerals are known from this location. At Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Serandite occurs in sodalite xenoliths and pegmatites cutting syenites.

Specimen size: 1.7 x 0.5 x 0.4 inches

Specimen weight: 9 grams (0.3 ounces)

HESSONITE is a variety of GROSSULAR GARNET. This specimen is orange in color, gemmy and translucent. Luster is adamantine and size is thumbnail (0.9 inches). From the famous Jeffrey Mine in Quebec, Canada. This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. He is a friend and long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.