Raw Thomsonite Crystal Pendant Wire Wrapped .925 Sterling Silver

Raw Thomsonite Crystal Pendant Wire Wrapped in .925 Sterling Silver Round Wire

A fascinating and interesting stone composed of fine compact radial acicular (needle like) thomsonite crystals which give the stone a silky to satin like sheen. Thomsonite is a zeolite mineral similar in structure to larimar (blue pectolite), and some similar zeolite minerals: mordenite, scolecite, natrolite, etc. Thomsonite crystal colors vary from clear to opaque in white, cream, beige, pink, lavender, orange, red, and green, often in multiple color combinations. As this one is dominantly white, it is very versatile. It can be attractively worn against most colors, especially darker contrasting colors. Caution should be taken with white, cream, and other light pastel color backgrounds, as it may blend into them with its beauty obscured. As a raw or rough crystalline stone with a non-standard shape and contour, and natural rough acicular meshed surfaces, this stone is most appealing to an artistic or naturalistic view. 

Description: Bright silky to satin white to beige-cream; organic shaped opaque radial acicular (needle-like) crystalline stone, wrapped in 22-gauge sterling silver wire.

Stone Size: Medium (1” x 3/4” x 7/16”).

Pattern: Bright white fine radial compact silky to satin sprays radiating in multiple directions and colliding into each other.

Contour: Rough, sloped, ridged, peaked face.

Unique Features: Unusual radial spray pattern of silky to satin luster; natural pitted and broken crystal end regions; rough stone back with some small pits.

Polish: Unpolished natural, brilliant silky to satin sheen.

Edges: Rough, natural, somewhat sharp, some remaining natural pits and host rock.

Treatment: None; natural radial acicular mineral crystal.

Comment: Thomsonite and scolecite are very similar zeolite minerals, and can’t always be clearly distinguished without analytical testing. Chemically, the main difference is sodium and calcium content with thomsonite containing both sodium and calcium, and scolecite only calcium. Identification by physical appearance is loosely based on crystal size, or radial spray length. Individual thomsonite crystal balls or needle sprays are more fine, smaller, and shorter than scolecite. Thomsonite acicular sprays radiate out from a center point from about an eighth to a half of an inch. Scolecite sprays radiate out from a center point from about three quarters of an inch to two inches or more. Most thomsonite stones and cabochons in the gem market are actually highly weathered and/or ground and polished cores of actual crystal clusters or masses. Exposed cores reveal more color variation and pattern, hence the beautiful variations in typical thomsonite pieces.  The beauty in raw thomsonite crystal clusters, like this one, is seen in the silky to satin like sheen, usually with far less color variation, often in a white to beige base color. A unique, handmade, genuine crystal cluster pendant, this piece is posted individually, not merely a representative item - what you see is what you get.