Brucite on the Matrix

Brucite on the matrix is the mineral form of magnesium hydroxide, with the chemical formula Mg(OH)2. It is a common alteration product of periclase in marble; a low-temperature hydrothermal vein mineral in metamorphosed limestones and chlorite schists; and formed during serpentinization of dunites.

Brucite is often found in association with serpentine, calcite, aragonite, dolomite, magnesite, hydromagnesite, artinite, talc, and chrysotile. we had a big surprise in February 2017 when we found this incredible deep yellow color of brucite from a chromite mine which was never been seen anywhere in the world before. The glorious yellow color of these finds is a first for brucite, to my knowledge.

They run from pastel yellow through intensely saturated lemon color (though this is about 1 in 500 pieces), and seem to have formed in some very tightly constricted vein filings in this mountainous region. We have never even seen a hint of brucite from Pakistan before.

This is another very fine inventory piece that we have sold in the past. I have been quietly buying up the find in small lots since December of 2015 to get a feel for the quality and found that the top yellow pieces are only ten in 100, and the lemon yellow ones are even rarer than that.

They trickle out in small pockets, mined by hand, and laboriously brought down to Peshawar. Each lot has only a few worthy specimens, with the rest being pale or gray, or heavily contacted.

I have been involved in buying and selling Brucite from Day 1 since it came out and handle nearly thousands of pieces but I have not seen as compact and balance specimen as this one especially on matrix a good one extremely rare to find!

The crystal is perfectly perching from chromite Matrix without any damage at all and the quality, color & luster can’t get better than this it’s truly a remarkable specimen! In my humble opinion, It’s one of the finest pieces without a doubt on matrix with such quality, color, and aesthetics without any damage at all