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Volume 66, pages 885-908, 1981 The largest crystals PETER C. RICKWOOD School of Applied Geology University of New South Wales Kensington, N. S. W. 2033, Australia Abstract No upper limit on the size of crystals is to be expected, but
the dimensions and occurrences of the largest known crystals in each of twenty-four categories (nine classes) of
minerals are presented and discussed. The largest authenticated crystal of any type is a beryl from Malakialina,
Malagasy Republic, being 18 m in length, 3.5 m in diameter, having a volume estimated at 143 m3 and a mass approximately
380,000 kg. Introduction Palache (1923) wrote, "How large can crystals grow? What teacher of mineralogy but has been asked this question many times. He would probably reply that there is no limit but if he tried to tell of the biggest that had been found he would find it difficult to give an exact answer". Among the many improbable tales handed down from student to student is the story of a mysterious locality in the Urals where a quarry was made inside a single feldspar crystal. And yet there may be truth in this, for the undocumented report of such an orthoclase crystal can be traced to Lindgren (1933, p.754). Its size was given by Hurlbut (1968, p.14) thus ". . . in the Ural Mountains a quarry 30 x 30 feet of unknown depth was opened in a single feldspar crystal", and Kostov (1968, p.55) wrote "There are known, . . . orthoclase crystals 10 m x 10 m weighing up to 100 tons, . . ." Regrettably, like many giant crystals it was not accurately measured, so its true dimensions remain unknown.More than half a century has passed since Palache (1923) published, in this journal, a list of the largest crystals known to him, and wrote "Will not every reader of this magazine supply such data as he possesses?" The plea must have been, unheeded for an updated list did not appear, although Spencer (1928), Frondel (1935), and Jahns (1953) subsequently recorded additional data on large crystals of minerals which were of particular interest to them. A more recent appeal (Rickwood, 1976) for such data was also rewarded with little response. An extensive literature search, and a multitude of letters to mineralogists throughout the world, has, however, yielded much data which is presented here for it has never previously been brought together in a single compilation.
The Compilation How best to present this data has been a problem for a list including every mineral species, such as Palache (1923) commenced to compile, would have been both cumbersome and extremely difficult to produce. Accordingly, this compilation gives (Table 1) the largest known crystals for each of the mineral classes in the classification used by Mason and Berry (1968, p.197). Each of the compositions named in their class titles has been separately listed and the most common minerals - silicates - have been considered by subclasses. In addition, some data for organic minerals are presented.For each of the twenty-four mineral categories, there are listed in Table 1 the crystals which have the greatest length, the greatest volume, and the greatest mass. Sometimes a single crystal has all three records, but multiple entries for a category have often proved necessary to encompass these and establish the records in that sequence. Additional specimens are also listed whenever a larger crystal has been incompletely documented, or where doubt exists that it is a single crystal. All data are given in SI units with converted measurements being indicated by an asterisk and estimated or calculated parameters being enclosed by parentheses. Converted measurements have been rounded to the nearest cm (or two significant figures) and calculations of volume and mass have been based on the rounded figures, assuming simple geometrical shapes. For each crystal, only the original reference is cited unless it is in a rather obscure publication, or a later paper includes additional data. Several measurements have been obtained from the book by Sinkankas (1964), but this author did not cite the data sources so this information could not be verified. Books by Guillemin (1964, 1972) are lists of selected specimens contained in various museum collections and were most useful sources of information. However, occasional discrepancies in dimensions have been noticed between data given by Guillemin and that supplied by curators. In these instances the information provided by museum curators has been preferred. Note that Guillemin (1964) renumbered the pages for each museum so that it is necessary to know the location of the crystal before data can be retrieved. The crystals recorded here merit inclusion by virtue of their size and not their beauty. Indeed many of these large crystals have irregular form and little aesthetic appeal. Very large crystals can be difficult, if not impossible, to accurately measure unless they are completely mined out of their matrix. Seldom would a geologist be present throughout such an operation and so, of necessity, some dimensions may have been obtained from miners. It is also difficult to ascertain that these are single entities and not aggregates of smaller crystals. Hence, unless an author has specifically indicated that the material is a single crystal, there has been a conscious rejection of all data on "masses", "aggregates", "deposits", "shoots", "pods", etc.
Table 1. The largest crystals of minerals
Footnotes:
Gold, Sinkankas (1964, p.280) mentioned ". . . octahedral plates to 12" broad . . ." (0.30 m) from an unspecified location in California, but the Curator, Mineral Museum, Division of Mines and Geology, State of California, U.S.A. cannot confirm this occurrence. (Mrs. E.M. Learned, Pers. Comm. 28.9.79). Very large specimens of copper are recorded in the literature (Dana and Brush, 1872, p.15; Hurlbut, 1968, p.156; Murdoch, 1943; Palache et al., 1944, p.101) as having been found in the Copper Range, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, U.S.A. However, Mr. A.Y. Johnstone (Pers. Comm. 20.5.77) noted that these were almost certainly crystal aggregates and the largest of the rare single crystals from the area was only 4.4 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm. Sulphur, This crystal (Fig. 1) is in the collection of the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy. A sketch supplied by Dr. V. de Michele (Pers. Comm. 22.10.79) gives the listed dimensions which are more accurate than those given by Guillemin (1964, p.l; 1972, p.5) and de Michele (1978, p.42). A small patch of calcite adheres to the sulphur so that the true weight is not known. Other notable sulphur crystals are: (i) one 18 cm long from Perticara, Urbino, Italy and kept in the Institute of Mineralogy, Milan, Italy; Guillemin (1964, p. 1).
Graphite crystals 20 cm long have been reported from unspecified localities in Sri Lanka; Weinschenk (1900, p.292,297), Kostov (1968, p.105). Stibnite, One 5 cm dimension is inferred. Note, Wada (1904, p.21) stated ". . . crystals more than 60 cm long were found". This specimen is in the Wada Collection, Central Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Metal Mining Company, Yonu-Shi, Saitana Prefecture, Japan; it was found in Iyo Province which has since been renamed Ehime Prefecture; Namu (1970, p.152). Stibnite2, One of a group of crystals (Fig. 2) in the Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Universitat Hamburg, Germany; Dr. M. Hanisch (Pers. Comm. 18.1.80). Guillemin (1972, p.5) reported that the length of the largest of these crystals was 65 cm, but the new measurements do not confirm that size. However, Dr. Hanisch reported that the group had twice been repaired and "may be, the length once was about 65 cm". The next largest crystal is 52 x 2.9 x 3.25 cm. Other notable crystals of stibnite from this locality are:(i) a 54 x 7 x 4 cm crystal, specimen 15426 in the Ecole National Superieure des Mines, Paris, France; Guillemin (1964, p.2; 1972, p.27).
Galena, This specimen (BM 61213) is in the British Museum (Natural History), London. Figure 3. The Fersman Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R., has a cube of pyrite 25 x 18 x 15 cm from Aktchitao, Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R. (Guillemin, 1964, p.4; 1972, p.98), and the Institute of Mineralogy, Heidelberg, Germany has a pyritohedron of pyrite 20 cm (in diameter?) from Rio Marina, Elba, Italy (Guillemin, 1964, p.l). Tennantite, This was stated to be a set of "tetrahedral crystals up to 30 cm on an edge"-Pinch and Wilson (1977, p.33) and a perfectly symmetrical shape has been assumed. This is probably specimen 428 of the Kegel Collection which is now part of the Roebling Collection of the Smithsonian Institution; White (1977, p.51)--although the latter stated the size as 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm) with a 6" (15 cm) tetrahedron.Argyrodite, This is specimen C51 in the Cranfield Collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, U.S.A. (Guillemin, 1972, p.115). Other notable sulphosalt crystals are: (i) Tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) from a mine at Irazein, Ariege, France. A tetrahedral crystal with edges 15 cm in length and a mass of 2.6 kg is in the museum of the University of Paris (Sorbonne), Paris, France (Dr. P. Bariand, Pers. Comm. 28.11.80); it was photographically documented by Bariand and Bariand (1976, p.90-1).
Columbite, Hanley (1953) described the minerals at the Bob Ingersoll Mine, Keystone District, South Dakota,
U.S.A. and stated (p.7?) that in Dike No. 1 the wall zone of cleavelandite-quartzmuscovite pegmatite contains "Columbite,
commonly in thin plates as much as 2.5 ft. long (0.76 m) and 2 ft. wide (0.61 m), . . ." In Dike No. 2 the quartz-albite
pegmatite is coarser at the 4,950 ft. level than at the surface, ". . . , and columbite plates are as much as 2.5
ft. long (0.76 m) and 1.3 ft. wide (0.40 m) at this level." (p.79). Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm. 6.6.80) described
these as being ". . . very thin, as I remember, about one quarter of an inch or less." (0.0064 m).
Corundum, The dimensions of this crystal (Fig. 4) were obtained by measurement of Hall's (1920) Plate XXI
and are larger than values reported by Palache (1923, p.363) who gave 61 cm and 30 cm, the latter distance being clearly
in error. The shape is roughly a cone on a hemispherical base and a volume calculated for this form is only in accord
with the stated mass of 335 lbs. (152 kg) if the density is 4.27 g/cm³. The crystal was found at Cleveland Rhone
Tributes, a working on the left bank of Sudimani (or Sudimane) Spruit, south of Manuel's Kop (or Manual Beacon), 13.5 km
NE of Mica Siding, about 25 km SW of Phalaborwa, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. It is on display in the museum of
the Geological Survey, Pretoria, South Africa. Note that Guillemin (1964, p.l) erroneously stated the mass to be 160 kg. A "piece" of tantalite, (Fe, Mn) (Nb, Ta) Ferroan-Brucite, "Aggregates of fibres reaching a length of 20 inches" (50.8 cm) were reported by Berman
and West (1932, p.313) and substantiated by a photograph, but no cross section dimensions of individual crystals were
given.
Brucite, "The world's finest specimens came from Wood's and Low's chromite mines near the
Pennsylvania-Maryland border, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; crystals to 7" (17.8 cm) across have been recorded as
well as broad cleavages of snow-white color and fine pearly lustre over 8" (20.3 cm) across. (Fig. 159)";
Sinkankas (1964, p.339). The specimen shown in Fig. 159 is stated to be 7 1/2" x 3 1/4," (19.1 x 8.3 cm) and may be a single cleavage block.
Brucite, This is the largest crystal for which full dimensions are available; it is in the American Museum
of Natural History, New York, U.S.A.; Frondel (1935, p. 472). (i) " . . . a cleavage surface with longest dimension = 19 cm.."; Frondel (1935, p.472).
(ii) A block with crystals 10 x 8cm; Guillemin (1964, p.3; 1972, p.103).
Sinkankas (1964, pp. 339-340) reported brucite occurring as "Fine white cleavage plates to
4" (10.2 cm)
x 7" (17.8 cm) in marble from Wakefield, ...".
Fluorite, A spherical shape was assumed for calculation; Professor A. H. Jahns has stated
(Pers. Comm. 25.4.77) that the specimen was accurately measured.
Calcite, The rhombohedral edges have been assumed equal on one face so that the volume is the product of
each of the dimensions and sin² 78.08°. These three sets of measurements may relate to the same crystal and hence the
data of Descloizeaux (1847, p.770) may have been misquoted. Indeed, Palache et al. (1951, p.155) and Bancroft (1973,
p.128) reported the crystal to be 20 x 6.5 feet (6.10 x 1.98 m) and Palache (1923, p.363) previously indicated
dimensions of 6 x 2 m to have been gained from an unstated account by Descloizeaux.
Some other large specimens of calcite are: (i) Two very large crystals recorded by Kelley (1940) from near the Harding Mine, Taos
County, New Mexico. The larger crystal ". . . is estimated to have weighed at least thirty tons (33,069 kg) or
possibly as much as forty tons (44,093 kg) before it was partially mined." (p. 365) and is shown in a photograph;
Kelley (1940, Fig. 3, p.364).
(ii) A polysynthetic scalenohedron of calcite from Joplin, Missouri, U.S.A., with dimensions 1 m x
40 cm is in the American Museum of Natural History, New
York, U.S.A. (specimen 32565); Guillemin (1972, p.103).
Soda Nitre, This is specimen BM66038 in the British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K. and is a bundle of
subparallel fibrous crystals. The measurements were made by the author and Mr. P. Tandy (31.10.80).
Gerhardtite, This specimen is in the Musee de 1'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium; Dr. M. Deliens (Pers.
Comm. 20.8.79). Guillemin (1964, p.l) reported that this museum had a larger crystal (1.5 cm long) from this occurrence;
however, Dr. Deliens has indicated that during a recent re-examination of the entire collection it was found that the
crystal was malachite and not gerhardtite.
There are few measurements of nitrate crystals recorded in the literature but Dietze (1891, p.446) and Osann (1894, p.584) did note that crystals of
darapskite, Na Kernite, As the habit is stated by Palache et al. (1951) to be nearly equant, the second and third dimensions have been
assumed equal. Note that Schaller (1930, p.137) wrote that "some of the crystals are of immense size, the largest
one seen measuring 8 feet (2.44 m) (c axis) by 3 feet" (0.91 m). This crystal was confirmed to exist by Dr. V.
Morgan (Pers. Comm. 12.1.79) and is still insitu in old underground workings now closed by Federal mine regulations
(Dr. J. Siefke, Pers. Comm. 22.4.80). Lautarite, If linear dimensions are calculated on the basis of the axial ratios 0.6331:1:0.6462, then the greatest length is 2.20 cm. Schwartzembergite, Specimen 86453 in the British Museum (Natural History), London,
U.K. The crystals are ". . . as much as 6 mm across and are honey-yellow to reddish-brown in colour."
"The crystals are very flat, and their contour is square with more or less rounded corners. They are formed of
eight low pyramids, four above and four below, directly above one another in pairs. The pyramids are so much rounded that
the shape of the crystals approximates to a very flat cone."; Smith and Prior (1911, p. 78-79). Mr. P. Tandy (Pers.
Comm., 3.12.80, 13.2.81) stated that the largest crystal is a distorted, flattened bipyramid with a volume of 16 mm³. Other noteable occurrences of gypsum are:
(i) Professor C. Frondel has written (Pers. Comm. 1978) that larger crystals probably occur in the
Naica Mine, Mexico, but Foshag (1927, p.254) merely stated "many of them are four (1.22 m) and five feet (1.52 m)
long and a few probably reach six feet". (1.83 m).
(ii) Talmage (1893, p.86) described a remarkable set of large selenite (CaSO Crocoite, Reid (1925, p.12) wrote "The most important bodies, both as regards quantity and quality,
occur at the Dundas Extended, West Comet, and Adelaide Mines where crystals of hyacinth red and deep scarlet colour, 10
to 12 centimetres long, with perfect terminations, are found...". Subsequently in mine descriptions the only
mention of such crystals is under the heading of Adelaide Mine (". . . 3 to 6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm) in
length..." p.79). A later publication (Tasmanian Dept. Mines, 1970, p.37), lists 10-12 cm crystal of crocoite only
at the Dundas Extended and West Comet Mines.
Crocoite2, This crystal is in the collection of Edward Swoboda, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. The second
dimension has been determined from the photograph published by Bancroft (1973, p.141) and the third dimension has been
assumed. Sinkankas (1964, p.403) wrote "The largest single crystals, sometimes
terminated, reached lengths of 3 1/2"
(8.9 cm) and diameters of 3/8" (0.95
cm).
Crocoite crystals from Beresovsk, Urals, U.S.S.R. measuring 8 to 10 cm long and 1 cm diameter are in
the Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria; Guillemin (1964, p.3).
Wulfenite, Key (1977, p.50) wrote "These reached the astounding size of 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter, but
they were so thin and fragile that damage was severe: a sample from this occurrence is on display in the American
Museum." Pinch and Wilson (1977, p.34) similarly described ". . . thin crystals up to 60 cm across intergrown
with each other," as occurring at this locality. However, Sinkankas (1964, p.434) had previously claimed "and
in magnificent reticulated clusters, probably the world's largest crystals, from Glove (Sunrise) Mine, Tyndall
district, Santa Cruz County (Fig. 235). Some Glove crystals reach 4" (10.2-cm) on edge and consist of exceedingly
thin tablets of yellowish color, sometimes coated with descloizite." Wulfenite crystals, with 10 cm edges, from the
Glove Mine, Amado, Arizona, U.S.A. comprise specimen 10,000 of the Roebling Collection in the Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (Guillemin, 1972, p.122).
Kostov (1968, p.487) cited a range of 6.5-7.0 g/cm³ for the density of wulfenite, but although Mason
and Berry (1968, p.378) gave the same range,
they stated that the calculated value is 6.815 g/cm³ and lower and higher densities occur due to substitution of Ca for
Pb and W for Mo, respectively. This calculated value has been assumed here but note that Palache et al. (1951, p.1083)
gave 6.88 g/cm³ as the calculated value.
Wulfenite2 This (Fig. 5) is specimen #40351 in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of
Canada, Ottawa. The largest crystal is chipped and the dimensions reported here were supplied by Dr. J. D. Grice of that
Museum and are more accurate than those given by Key (1977, p.50).
Wilson (1977, p.81) published a photograph of another large wulfenite crystal from Tsumeb, Namibia,
and the part-owner has reported the dimensions to be 7.8-9.1 x 5.9-6.5 x 1.2-2.5 cm (Mrs. M. Zweibel, Pers. Comm., Feb. 79).
Large wulfenite crystals also occur at M'Fouati, Morocco and Guillemin (1972, p.21) noted that some
5-10 cm x 1 cm were in the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines, Paris, France.
Scheelite, Frondel (1935, p.473) stated that this specimen is in the American Museum of Natural History, New
York, U.S.A., but it has not proved possible to obtain additional data. Further, he wrote the name "Wads"
after his entry relating to this crystal, but in the book on the minerals of Japan by that
renowned mineralogist (Wada 1904, p.72-76), the largest scheelite crystal is one of 9 cm (p.75) on a specimen from
Sannotake, Buzen Pt, Japan. Sinkankas (1964, p.433) wrote: "A number of localities is Japan provide specimens, and
from an unidentified source, an enormous crystal 13" (33 cm) from tip to tip is recorded by the Japanese
mineralogist Wada. Very large crystals also come from Korea, as at Taehwa, and rudely dipyramidal crystals to about
6" (15.2 cm) length, have been recorded." Previously (p.431) Sinkankas had recorded wolframite crystals
"to 5" lengths" (13 cm) from Quartz Creek district, Gunnison County, Colorado, U.S.A. and the greater
density (c 7.31 g/cm³) of this mineral would probably result in these crystals having the largest known mass for a
molybdate. However, none of these claims can be considered to be adequately substantiated.
Scheelite2, This scheelite crystal from Kramat Pulai, Malaya (Specimen BM1937, 98) was reported by Guillemin
(1964, p.3) to be "octaedre de 20 cm". Inspection of the specimen (31.10.80) revealed that this dimension was
approximately correct for the distance between the most remote apices of the square bipyramid. Subsequently, Mr. P. Tandy, British Museum
(Natural History), U.K. has written (Pers. Comm. 3.12.80, 13.2.81) to report that the base edges are 12 cm long and the others are 14.5 cm. Thus the calculated volume is 1128.77
cm³and for a density of 6.1 g/cm³ the corresponding mass is 6685.50 g. However, the actual weight is 5855 g for some of the
corners are missing. An encrustation of fluorite complicates matters but ignoring it, for its mass is unknown, yields a
calculated volume of 959.84 cm³.
Wolframite, Hess (1909, p.152) described the wolframite to be mostly brilliant black and occasionally to have
"the purplish rosiny appearance of hubnerite. Single cleavage blades reach perhaps 8 inches in length."
Scheelite4, This is an elongate and truncated octahedron (Fig. 6), Specimen #97239 in the Geological Museum,
Harvard University, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Professor C. Frondel (Pers. Comm. 23.1.79) reported its weight as 18 1/4 lbs.
(8.28 kg) and this has been confirmed by Dr. C. A. Francis (Pers. Comm. 12.7.79) when the latter sent a sketch with
edge lengths. Guillemin (1964, p.l) reported inaccurate dimensions of 20 x 10 cm.
Amblygonite, Dr. J. J. Norton (Pers. Comm. 27.11.79) has written "The crystal was one that had been
mostly mined, hence was not seen in its entirety, but enough of it remained to allow an estimate of its size." It
was not photographed. The density of 3.00 g/cm³ has been derived from Kostov's (1968, p.450) values of 3.11 g/cm³
(amblygonite) and 2.98 g/cm³ (montebrasite) together with the stated composition Mo85 (Norton et al., 1962, p.81). Accordingly, it is worth recording here some exceptionally large amblygonite occurrences:
(i) Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm., 6.6.80) discussed amblygonite masses at Tinton, South Dakota,
U.S.A. and wrote "However, the miners told of taking out a "continuous" mass for about 125 feet (38.1 m)
on the SW side of the main pit. This is not shown in plate 40 of Prof. Paper 247 because those parts that remained are
under an overhang. To the SE, however, on Section GG' a 15-foot mass (4.57 m) is mapped-this I remember as one crystal,
but rounded."
(ii) At the Peerless Mine, Keystone District, Black Hills, South Dakota, U.S.A., Hess (1925, p.289)
reported an amblygonite mass 27 feet across (8.23 m) and other dimensions were said to be comparable but not fully
exposed. Dr. J. J. Norton (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) suggested calculating the volume of (iii) At Beecher Lode, Custer District, Black Hills, South Dakota, U.S.A. "A 200-ton (181,000
kg) mass (of amblygonite) is said to have been removed from the north pit, . . ."; Joralemon .(1953, p.70).
(iv) At Dike No. 1, Bob Ingersoll Mine, Keystone District, Black Hills, South Dakota,
U.S.A."According to Mr. Johnson, one amblygonite mass had a surface length of about 30 ft., (9.14 m) an average
width of about 4 ft., (1.22 m) and extended from the surface nearly to the adit level."-Hanley (1953, p.78). The
third dimension could have been as much as 30 ft. (9.14 m), judging from section II' on Plate 7, and hence the weight
could have been about 160,000 kg.
Triphyllite, Professor C. Frondel (Pers. Comm. 1978) stated that this crystal was only partially exposed when he saw it, so the third dimension
has had to be assumed. The largest of these "Crystals" had a volume of 20.4 m³ and a mass in excess of 73,000 kg,
but as doubt was implied about it being a single crystal this specimen has been excluded from the tabulation.
Some other notably large phosphate crystals are:
(i) an apatite, Ca (ii) amblygonite, LiA1P0 (iii) a vivianite, Fe3(PO4)2·8H20, crystal from Anloua, Cameroon which is 1.30 m long; Guillemin (1964, p.2; 1972, p.21). This specimen is in the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines, Paris, France. Legrandite, Dr. P. G. Embrey wrote (Pers. Comm.,1.1.79), "I have seen 4" (10.2 cm) prisms, although we have none of this size, and I believe a specimen is known with 6" (13.2 cm) prisms or perhaps longer". Wilson (1978, p.35) wrote about a . . . "remarkable single 8 inch (20 cm) spray of legrandite. . ." but no details are presently available. Stellate sprays of erythrite, Co3(As04)2·8H20, with "acicular needles to 4" . . . (10.2 cm) were stated by Sinkankas (1964, p.409) to have been found in cavities in the Grube Rappold Mine, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany.Mimettite, This specimen is in the collection of Keith Proctor, Colorado Springs, U.S.A.: the photograph (Fig. 7) was previously published by Wilson (1977, p.62). The diameter between prism faces of this hexagonal crystal has been estimated from the photograph. A slightly smaller crystal (2 in. long x 1 in. diameter: 5.1 cm x 2.5 cm diam.) from this locality was mentioned by Key (1977, p.49). An aggregate of novacekite, Mg(U0 2·AsO4)2·9H20, crystals, measuring 6 cm in length is shown in a photograph by Bariand and Bariand (1976, p.120); the occurrence is at Brumado, Bahia State, Brazil and the specimen is in the University of Paris (Sorbonne), Paris, France. Dr. Bariand (Pers. Comm., 28.11.80) has written that the largest crystal has a length of 5 cm.Vanadinite, Young (1976, p.243) recorded vanadinite crystals at Mibladen, Morocco thus, "I would say the largest crystals never exceed two inches (5.1 cm) . . . . that would be exceptional". Vanadinite2, This is the largest crystal on specimen 4525 in the museum of the Geological Survey of South Africa, Pretoria, R.S.A. It was vanadinite but now is pseudomorphed by descloizite crystals, PbZn (VO 4)(OH); Guillemin (1964,.p.1). The smaller dimension has been assumed to be the diameter of a hexagonal cross section.Dr. P. G. Embrey has written (Pers. Comm., 9.2.79) about a similar crystal from this locality which is specimen BM1933, 308 in the British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K. It is 8 x 4 cm, has a mass of 324 g, and before polishing was coated with descloizite. Garnet, This is an irregularly shaped shell of garnet around a block of limestone, and it may be a crystal aggregate. The density was calculated, not assume and is almost certainly smaller than the true value; the reported weight (37.5 tons) was taken to be:" metric tonnes. A sketch accompanies both reference; and from it the maximum dimension of the garnet is measured as 2.3 m, a value incompatible with the stated volume estimate (10 m³) even if the limestone is included. Garnet2, Subsequently, Kolderup (1960, p.74) stated "Here a giant crystal, measuring 90 cm, was
found". . . , and Kostov (1968, p.318) recorded "In the
western part of Norway garnet has been found as porphyroblasts with a diameter of 1 m in amphibolite". These accounts
probably relate to the same specimen which is the very imperfect dodecahedral crystal, (Fig. 8) mentioned in Table
1, and which is kept at the
Natural History Museum, Bergen, Norway. Note that the volume has been calculated from the reported mass and
density. Garnet4, The form was stated to be roughly spherical and the calculated mass of 1.70 short tons accords with the reported value of "over 1.5 tons". (Levin, 1950, p.546). The density is the mean of ten values: for type XH garnets as given by Levin (1950, Table; 1). Orthite, This crystal is roughly circular in cross section and consists of a cylinder 49 cm x 37.8 cm diameter, between two truncated cones, 32 cm and 33 cm-"... high with smallest diameters of 17.8 and 13.9 cm respectively (Fig. 9). All dimensions have been calculated and are based on the 40 cm rule included in the photograph taken by Staffan Waerndt. The volume been calculated assuming the above idealized form. The calculated mass of 375 kg is slightly larger than the 300 kg estimated by Dr. B. Lindquist (Pers. Comm. 19.1.79) who reported that the "crystal is rather flattened so I prefer to estimate its weight by transforming it into a box shape, the edges being 55, 15, and 90 cm respectively. Assuming density 4.0 the mass should then be 297 kg, i.e., around 300 kg." (13.2.79). The crystal is on display at the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden. Other large sorosilicate crystals are: (i) those recorded by Sinkankas (1964, p.521) being slender blades of allanite, (Ca,Ce,La,Na) 2 (A1,Fe,Mn,Be,Mg)3O(OH) (Si04) (Si2O7) which at the Rutherford Mines, Amelia, Amelia County, Virginia, U.S.A. attain 16 inches (40.6 cm) in length.(ii) Sinkankas (op.cit., p.520) also cited two occurrences of epidote, Ca 2Al2FeSi3O12(OH), from which crystals 12 inches long (30 cm) have been obtained.(iii) Bjørlykke (1935, p.255) in writing about orthite, (Ca,Ce) 2 (AlFe)3Si3O12(O,OH) from Iveland, Setesdal, S. Norway, stated "It usually occurs in large ill-defined crystals up to a weight of 100 kgms and more ..." but no specific locality was given. However, in detailed descriptions of 108 pegmatite occurrences he nowhere mentioned these crystals but did write "The orthite was present in large ill-defined crystals"-Locality 58 Molland 7 (p.231) and "Orthite was abundant in large ill defined crystals." Locality 99 Kabuland 1 ("Amerika") (p.240).Beryl, The reported mass (estimated as 250 tons) requires a density of only 1.75 g/cm³ if metric units and a hexagonal cross section are assumed. The length and weight were confirmed by Dr. A. Gsell (Pers. Comm., 4.5.77) but he stated a slightly smaller diameter of 3 m which is consistent if he measured between hexagon edges and if the larger diameter was measured between corners. Jensen and Frigstad (1967, p.16) recorded the same length (18 m) and a diameter of 5 m, but the latter is probably erroneous in view of the similar estimates of the two local geologists who saw the crystal in 1964. A tapered beryl crystal 33 feet long (10.06 m) and 6 feet (1.83 m) in diameter was recorded by Stevens (1972, p.50) as having been found in 1950 at the Bumpus Quarry, Albany, Oxford County, Maine, U.S.A. The crystal reported by Waldschmidt (1920) as being the largest known of beryl came from the Bob Ingersoll mine, South Dakota, U.S.A., and had a diameter of 1.17 m (46 in.) and a known length of 1.12 m (44 in.).Spodumene, Spencer (1928, p.259) recorded this crystal as being "47 feet in length with a cross section 3 to 5 feet, and from it 90 tons of material was quarried . . .". These data are a curious admixture of those for several crystals described by Schaller (1916, p.138). The second dimension (80 cm) has been estimated from the photograph (Fig. 10) and a square cross section was assumed. This was the longest crystal discovered at this locality, but it was thinner than the subsequently mentioned specimen which yielded the greatest volume and mass. Waldschmidt (1920, p.ll) wrote "At the Etta Mine, . . . , spodumene crystals have been mined that were more than fifty feet (15.24 m) long and from four to six feet (1.22-1.83 m) in diameter." However, this claim seems doubtful. Spodumene2. Kostov (1968, p.340) recorded rounded metric measurements (13 m x 2 m x 1 m) and a mass of 65 tons (58,967 kg. if short tons) from which an improbable density of 2.27 g/cm³ is derived. Ziegler (1913, p.1054; 1914, p.655) recorded a smaller crystal, 42 feet long and 5 ft. 4 in. maximum diameter (12.8 m x 1.63 m maximum diameter) which "would yield 90 tons (81,647 kg) of spodumene" (1914. p.655) but would necessitate an impossibly high density of 4.8 g/cm³ if the "diameter" is the diagonal of a square cross section. The tabulated crystal was decayed and yielded only 37 tons (33.6 tonnes) of spodumene; Hess (1911, p.650). Phlogopite, Calculations have been based on an assumed hexagonal cross section. Palache (1923, p.363)
estimated the total weight as ". . . not less than 90 tons" (81,647 kg) but this is far too low for the stated
dimensions. He also attributed the data on this specimen to Ellsworth, but no mention of it can be found in
the numerous publications of the latter (Mr. H. R. Steacy,
Pers. Comm., 4.11.77, 20.1.78; Professor L. G. Berry, Pers. Comm., 3.2.78). de Schmid, (1912,p.141), Spence (1929, p.69) and Hewitt (1968, p.29) recorded a phlogopite crystal from this mine with
a stated diameter of "over 9 feet" (2.74 m). Biotite, Fersman (1931, p.119) stated that a biotite crystal, K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 with an area of 7 m² had been found in a feldspar mine at Evje, Norway and Barth, who worked on this area, mentioned 2-3 m flakes of both muscovite and biotite (1928, p.464) and specifically gave Rosas, Iveland as a location for 3 m long biotite flakes (1931, p.118). Muscovite, Harding (1944, pp.34-35) wrote "One large mica crystal of phenomenal size, discovered by Justin Purdy and extracted by Purdy Mica Mines in 1943, was the source of spectacular sheets of clear muscovite with dimensions greater than 5 by 8 feet. One sheet from this huge crystal, one of the largest ever encountered in the history of Ontario mica-mining, was secured by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto". This, the largest authenticated phyllosilicate is shown in Figure 11; Harding (1944, p.34) published a photograph of a similar specimen which may have come from the same crystal.Microcline, Hanley et al. (1950, p.60) wrote "The mass of microcline exposed in the north face of the main open-cut is about 75 feet (22.86 m) wide and 40 feet (12.19 m) thick at the maximum and has an area of 2,337 square feet (217.11 m²), yet individual cleavage planes extend unbroken across the entire mass, which is probably a single crystal". These dimensions correspond to the open cut area on Section CC' of their Plate 7, but the entire area of microcline shown on that section has a maximum length of 118 feet (35.97 m), a width of 45 feet (13.72 m) and the surface area is 2912 sq. feet (270.5 m²). Cross sections through the pegmatite are drawn at 35 foot (10.67 m) intervals and cross sectional areas of microcline age nil (EE'), 141.3 m² (DD'), 270.5 m² (CC'), 11.12 m² (BB') and 20.15 m² (AA'). Thus continuity of microcline seems probable from 3 m south of EE', as indicated on the plan, to somewhere south of AA'; a minimum distance of 138 feet (42.06 m). However, Dr. L. R. Page (Pens. Comm., 6.6.80) has stated that "This deposit had been mined for about 125 feet (38.10 m) at right angles to the cleavage. The miners claimed that the cleavage had remained the same throughout the pit length. I have always maintained that this was the largest crystal I'd ever seen". As the north face of the open cut is shown as being about, 101 feet (30.78 m) north of AA', the microcline is likely to have extended a further 24 feet (7.32 m) south of AA'. Hence, the probable maximum length of microcline is 138 + 24 = 162 feet (42.05 + 7.32 = 49.38 m); the maximum breadth and width have been taken as those shown on section CC'. It is much more difficult to estimate the original volume for the eastern portion of the microcline has been truncated by erosion and mining. Simple surface reconstruction, to allow for mining, increases the area of microcline from 20.15 m² to 67.3 m² on AA' and from 11.12 m² to 167.7 m² on BB'; however, compensation for erosion is too subjective to be of value. Accordingly, using areas shown as the reconstructions on AA' to DD', and assuming zero area at the presumed termination points, the total volume has been calculated (using equations for a cone and its frustrum) to be 6214.41 m³ (219,459.8 ft.³) and the mass to be 15,908,890 kg (17,536.6 short tons). This may have been the largest crystal ever discovered but it cannot be regarded as fully authenticated, particularly in respect to the microcline having been one single crystal throughout. Perthite, As the composition of this perthite is Ab27 (Norton et al., 1962, p.65) the density is approximately 2.58 g/cm³ (Kostov, 1968, Fig. 386). This crystal was carefully measured by Drs. J. J. Norton and L. R. Page for it occurred on a corner of a quarry wall and all three dimensions could be determined. Dr. Norton wrote (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) that prior to measurement ". . . a sizeable part of this crystal had already been removed by mining . . ." . Subsequently, it was completely mined out and it was never photographed.Norton et al. (1962, p.64,65) described perthite, (K,Na)A1Si308, in Zone 3a of the Hugo Pegmatite, Keystone, South Dakota, U.S.A. thus: "Largest crystal observed was 35 by 15 by 6 foot (10.67 x 4.57 x 1.83 m), but much larger crystals were exposed in the early years of mining (G. M. Schwartz, oral communication, 1948)." "The largest crystal observed contained an estimated 250 tons of perthite." (226,796 kg): Dr. Norton wrote (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) that G. M. Schwartz, an eminent geologist, had said to him ". . . that he had in the 1920's seen the cleavage of
a single perthite crystal over the whole face then being mined. This crystal would have been several times as large as
the one I reported." Other notable tektosilicate crystals are: (i) The largest quartz (SiO2) crystal which has been substantiated was found at Mancho Felipe, near
Itapore, Goiaz, Brazil (Frondel, 1962, p.244) and was 20 feet long (6.10 m), 5 feet (1.52 m) across a prism face and was
estimated to have weighed over 44 tons (39,916 kg.). If the crystal was regular in shape, and lacked pyramid faces, then
the volume would have been 36.78 m³ and the mass 97,479 kg; the weight estimate is less than half of this calculated
value and must be questionable. Campbell (1946, p.797) described quartz "Crystals up to 6 m long with
the prism face 1.5 m wide were seen,"
some of which were shown in the photographs that accompanied his paper.
(ii) Dr. D. D. Hogarth (Pers.Comm. 25.1.78) observed a scapolite ((Na,Ca) Whewellite, This is specimen 27153 in the Bergakademie, Freiberg, D.D.R., which is a twinned crystal that
weighs 100 g with the matrix. Dr. F. Hofmann (Pers. Comm. 5.3:80) reported the thickness to be 30 mm, so for a single
crystal this has been halved. The mass has been estimated assuming that the matrix weighs roughly a third of the total;
the volume corresponds to the estimated mass. This crystal is shown in Fig. 12. The density was obtained from Palache et
al. (1951, p.1100) who noted "Among the natural occurrences may be mentioned Burgk near Dresden, Saxony, where
crystals up to several inches in size occur with calcite in the footwall of a coal seam." Whewellite2, This twinned crystal was obtained from coal deposits 25 km west of Prague, and is specimen 6185 in
the Prirodovedecke Muzeum, Prague, Czechoslovakia. The twin was reported by Dr. J. Svenek (Pers. Comm. 4.9.79) to weigh
33 g; this and the smallest dimension have been halved to estimate the size of a single crystal. Discussion It may be seen from Table 1 that the largest authenticated crystal whether considered by length,
volume, or mass is the beryl (18 m, 143 m³, and 379,480 kg respectively) from Malakialina, Malagasy Republic. However,
the mysterious orthoclase crystal found in the Urals, U.S.S.R. (Lindgren, 1933, p.754) could have been the biggest by
volume and mass for the calculated depth of only 40 cm seems improbable in conjunction with two other dimensions each of
ten meters. A depth of only 1.44 m would yield the greatest volume and 1.49 m would yield the greatest mass as well;
both values would be plausible. The microcline deposit in Colorado, U.S.A. may well have contained the largest crystal ever discovered
but there is insufficient evidence to support that claim. The volume and mass of the main microcline body so far exceed
corresponding parameters for any other crystals (x 43.5 and x 41.9 respectively over the beryl from Malagasy)
that the parameters given in Table 1 must be regarded with scepticism. Of the 60 crystals listed in Table 1, 20 are known to be in museum collections (sulphur, stibnite
(2), galena, argyrodite, corundum, brucite, soda-nitre, gerhardtite, schwartzembergite, wulfenite, scheelite (3),
vanadinite, garnet, orthite, muscovite, whewellite (2)), 3 (crocoite, legrandite and mimetite) are in private
collections and 1 (kernite) is still insitu. Three others, kamacite, tennantite, and wulfenite may be in museums but
there is some uncertainty. The ferroanbrucite (e,) is likely to be in a museum, probably in the U.S.A. An attempt has been made to obtain photographic proof of the data in Table 1 from museum curators and mineralogists. Included in this paper are photographs of 12 of these crystals (sulphur, stibnite, galena, corundum, wulfenite, scheelite, mimetite, garnet, orthite, spodumene, muscovite and whewellite). Photographic evidence has been published for two additional crystals from this list, ferroan-brucite (Berman and West, 1932, Fig. 1) and crocoite (Bancroft, 1973, p.141) and sketches of a garnet (Barth, 1930, p.128; 1962, p.300) and whewellite (Guillemin, 1964, p.22) have been printed. The largest crystal of which photographic evidence exists is the 14.3 m (47 foot) long spodumene (Fig. 9) from the Etta Mine, South Dakota, U.S.A.In 1928, Spencer cogently discussed the problems and philosophy of museums in regard to large crystals. However, it is unfortunate that not even photographs exist of most of these unique specimens. Acknowledgments I have been aided in making this compilation by receiving information from many people. In particular, I would like to record my gratitude to: Dr. M. Deliens in Belgium; Professor I. Kostov in Bulgaria; Professor L. G. Berry, Dr. J. D. Grice, Dr. D. D. Hogarih, Dr. J. A. Mandarino and Mr. H. R. Steacy in Canada; Dr. J. Svenek in Czechoslovakia; Dr. P. Bariand and Dr. A. Gsell in France; Dr. F. Hofmann in the German Democratic Republic; Dr. M. Hinisch in Germany; Dr. P. G. Embrey, Mr. J. P. Fuller, and Mr. P. Tandy in Great Britain; Dr. V. de Michele in Italy; Dr. J. A. Dons, Mr. I. Hernes, and Professor B. A. Stunt in Norway; Dr. C. Arahausser, Mr. M. Keyser, and the Director of the Geological Survey, in South Africa; Dr. B. Lindquist in Sweden; Dr. P. Bancroft, Dr. C. A. Francis, Professor C. Frondel, Mrs. N. C. Harris, Professor R. H. Jahns, Mr. A. Y. Johnstone, Mrs. E. M. Learned, Professor S. B. Levin, Dr. B. Mason, Professor P. B. Moore, Dr. H. Michel, Dr. V. Morgan, Dr. J. J. Norton, Dr. L. R Page, Dr. J. J. Peters, Dr. W. E. Wilson, and Mrs. M. Zweibel in the U.S.A. I would also like to thank my former colleague, Mrs. Ellen Sigmond (University of Iceland) for her interest in this work, which was commenced while I was attached to the Nordic Volcanological Institute, and who has helped me to obtain data about some Norwegian specimens. Finally, I offer my thanks to Mr. Norris D. McWhirter, Editor of the Guinness Book of Records, whose appreciation of my first efforts encouraged me to make a complete compilation for geologists. Dr. B. J. Hensen kindly criticized the manuscript, and the advice of Professor C. Frondel resulted in many improvements to it. References Anderson, O., (1931) Feltspat II. Forekomster I Fylkene Buskerud og Telemark, I Flere Herreder I Aust-Agder og I Hidra I Vest-Agder. Norges Geologiske Undersokelse, 128 B, 1-109. 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Manuscript received, August 9, 1978, accepted for publication, February 17, 1981.
FIGURE CAPTIONS (see original article for photographs)
Fig. 2. The largest authenticated SULPHIDE crystal by length. Stibnite, Ichinokawa, Iyo, Shikoku, Japan. This photograph was supplied by, and is reproduced by permission of, Dr. M. Hanisch, Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Universitat Hamburg, Germany (Table 1-b2). Fig. 3. The largest SULPHIDE crystal by volume and mass. Galena, Great Laxey Mine, Isle of Man, U.K.(composite cubooctahedra up to 25 cm, specimen BM 61213). Photograph reproduced by permission of the British Museum (Natural History), London (Table 1-b3). Fig. 4. The largest authenticated OXIDE crystal by length. Corundum, Cleveland Rhone Tributes, left bank Sudimani Spruit; Mica Siding, Transvaal, South Africa. This photograph has been copied from Plate XVI of the Union of South Africa, Department of Mines and Industries Memoir, 15, (1920) and is reproduced by permission of the Director, Geological Survey, South Africa (Table 1-d2). Fig. 5. The largest MOLYBDATE crystal by volume and mass Wulfenite, Tsumeb, Namibia. This specimen is No NMNS#40351 in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, The National, Museums of Canada and the photograph is reproduced by permission of Dr. J. D. Grice (Table I-m2). Fig. 6. The largest TUNGSTATE crystal by mass. Scheelite, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico. This photograph was supplied by, and is reproduced by permission of, Dr. C. A. Francis, Mineralogical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Specimen #97239) (Table 1-n4). Fig. 7. The largest ARSENATE crystal by volume and mass that has been authenticated. Mimetite, Tsumeb, Namibia from the collection of Keith Proctor. The photograph is reproduced by permission of the photographer Dr. Wendell E. Wilson, Editor of The Mineralogical Record and was originally published on p. 62 of volume 8(3) of that journal (Table 1-p2). Fig. 8. The largest NESOSILICATE crystal by length, volume and mass that has been authenticated. Garnet, Selvik, north of Gjølanger Molle, Fjaler herred, Sogn of Fjordane fylke, Norway--(100 x 70 x 40 cm). Photograph provided by, and is reproduced by permission of, Professor B. A. Stun, University of Bergen, Norway (Table 1-r2). Fig. 9. The largest SOROSILICATE crystal by length, volume and mass. Orthite, Arendal, Norway. This crystal is in the collection of the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm and the photograph by Staffan Waerndt is reproduced by permission: the ruler is 40 cm (Table 1-s). Fig. 10. The largest INOSILICATE crystal by length. Spodumene, Etta Mine, South Dakota, U.S.A.-{14.3 m long). Photograph copied from Plate VA, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 610, (1916) and reproduced by permission of the Director, U.S. Geological Survey (Table 1-u1). Fig. 11. The largest authenticated PHYLLOSILICATE crystal by length. Purdy Mica Mines. Ontario, Canada. This cleavage flake is in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada and the photograph has been supplied by, and is reproduced by permission of, Dr. J. A. Mandarino (Table 1-v4). Fig. 12. The largest ORGANIC crystal by length, volume and mass. Whewellite, Zwickau, Saxony, Germany. This is specimen 27153 in the Bergakademie, Freiberg, D.D.R. and the photograph is reproduced by permission of Dr. F. Hofmann (Table I-x1). Update by DVB Barite crystal 83 x 25.5 x 14.5 cm and weighing 76.5 kg. from Elandsrand gold mine, South Africa (July 1997, specimens at mine office). (Cairncross & Rademeyer 2001) Chalcomenite CuSeO3·2H2O to 2 cm crystals Baccu Locci mine, Sarrabus, Sardinia, Italy. (Mandarino 2001 see Orlandiite) Clinochlore crystals to 30 cm in diameter, Zlatoust, Urals, Russia (Kantor 2001) Copper crystals to 6.8 cm were found at Point Prospect, Michigan in 1990. (Rosemeyer & Carlson 2000) Diamond (gem) Cullinan, Premier Mine, Kimberly, South Africa, January 25, 1905, 3106 carats, or 621.2 grams, 10 cm. Cut into nine stones, the largest, a pear shaped stone of 550.2 carats, was set in British royal scepter (Cullinan I aka Great Star of Africa). The '616' is a 616 carat well developed yellow octahedron. Garnet crystal from Australia is reputed to be 60 meters. see J. Betts Gypsum crystals to 2.5m x 0.2m from Cave of Swords, Naica, Mexico and Francisco Portillo - crystals to 12 m. (Panczer 1987) Gypsum crystals to 40 feet by 6 feet from Crystal Cave, Naica, Mexico. (Sabagun & Winchell 2001) Legrandite 17th level Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mexico in 1979 28cm single crystal (20 cm crystals on "Aztec Sun" in Romero collection) (Panczer 1987). Sperrylite almost 3 cm on edge Talnakh, Noril'sk, Siberia (Cook 2001). Sulphur to 30 cm. Volga region, Russia (Generalov 2001) A good reference to large crystals is: Kostov, I. and R. I. Kostov (1999) Crystal habits of minerals. Prof. Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian Academic monographs (1) { available in US from Mineralogical Research Co.} References Cairncross, B. and B. Rademeyer (2001) Large barite crystals from the Elsrand gold mine, South Africa. Mineralogical Record 32:177-180. Cook, R. B. (2001) Connoisseur's Choice: Sperrylite Rocks & Minerals 76:40-42. Generalov, M. (2001) A. E. Fersman mineralogical museum Rocks & Minerals 76:17-21. Kantor, B. Z. (2001) Mineral collecting in Russia. Rocks & Minerals 76:10-16. Mandarino, J. A. (2001) Abstracts of new mineral descriptions. Mineralogical Record 32:209-222. Panczer, W. (1987) Minerals of Mexico Van Nostrand Reinhold Rosemeyer, T. and S. M. Carlson (2000) Mineralogy of Point Prospect, Keweenaw County, Michigan. Rocks & Minerals 75:222-228. Sabagun, C. L. and J. R. Winchell (2001) Naica's glittering new crystal cave. Rocks & Minerals 76:347-49.
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