Gmelinite, Analcime

This specimen features a pale pink crystals of gmelinite-Na, possibly gmelinite-chabazite, with crystal clear analcime lining a cavity in basalt. Gmelinite is one of the lesser-known and rarer zeolite minerals, a hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate. The crystals exhibit a distinctive, angular "flying saucer" shape, with sharp, lustrous faces and a well-formed, hexagonal structure. The finest crystal, with its nicely tapered shape, sits aesthetically within the vug, making this a fine "thumb'nail" specimen from a well-known Australian zeolite locality.

This piece originates from the Flinders area, a highly productive zeolite-collecting region along the coastline between Cape Schanck and the township of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. The first recorded mineral description from Flinders dates back to 1854, documented by A.R.C. Selwyn, Victoria's first Government Mineral Surveyor. His report noted the presence of zeolites such as analcime, chabazite, gmelinite, and natrolite. The basalts of the Flinders plateau, part of the widespread Older Volcanics covering the southeastern portion of the Mornington Peninsula, have produced many attractive zeolite specimens over the years, establishing the region as a notable source for collectors.

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