Description
This ilmenite and calcite crystal combination is from Tormig Valley in the Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The Tormig Valley encompasses a large area with dozens of locales containing dozens of alpine and pegmatites deposits that are mined for the recovery of mineral specimens including Ilmenite. It is an oxide that contains the elements Fe, Ti and O. This piece consists of a mix of calcite (Ca, C, O) in crystal form with a mica crystal book which is probably muscovite (K, Al, Si, O, F, H). The ilmenite is tabular and has a steel grey color with a sub-metallic luster. The morphology is hexagonal and some surfaces are hoppered. This piece is a large miniature that measures 2 1/4 x 1 3/4 x1 3/8 inches or 57 x 45 x 35 mm.
