37346: Orthoclase - $14 Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan Miniature - 3.2 x 3.0 x 2.7 cm 34 grams Specimen status: Reserved Send an email with specimen number to order A golden yellow, translucent to
transparent orthoclase crystal. (Clarity is better than my
now-familiar lousy photos suggest.) Terminated but
incomplete on the back and base where separated from
matrix. That this sample is orthoclase and not microcline
(or some other feldspar) was confirmed by XRD (x-ray
diffraction). Might yield a small gemstone if cut.
Orthoclase appears to be uncommon at this prolific
locality: of 1902 mineral
specimen photos hosted by Mindat for this locality,
only 17 show orthoclase (and none of
these are golden).
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