Embedded Aliettite crystals (Top!) from Tury Mys, Kola, Russia– miniature specimen as unique piece
This miniature specimen displays embedded tabular Aliettite crystals with a pale yellowish to greenish-white hue. The crystals are arranged along cleavage planes and appear as fibrous aggregates within a darker matrix. Their silky surface and fine texture make this a valuable piece for systematic collections.
Aliettite is a rare sheet silicate belonging to the smectite group, structurally related to montmorillonite. It forms under hydrothermal conditions in ultrabasic rocks, often associated with serpentinization. Well-formed Aliettite specimens are of particular mineralogical interest, especially those from the Kola Peninsula.
Geology & Origin:
Tury Mys on the Kola Peninsula in Russia is a classic locality for rare silicate minerals, especially from the sheet silicate group. The region is known for its complex igneous rock formations and related hydrothermal alteration processes. Aliettite forms here as a low-grade metamorphic product in serpentinitic rocks and is a sought-after addition to systematic mineral collections due to its rarity.