Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Shepard (1837) referring to it as "iolite" writes: "It occurs in large massive individuals, having one very eminent cleavage. Its colors are various shades of blue and green, the former predominating; it is transparent in spots, and possessed of dichroism. It is obtained at this place with some difficulty, and does not promise to be abundant." Much of it is altered to what Shepard (1841) refers to as "pinite" but more likely "fahlunite" similar to that found at Tim's Hill.
Habit:
massive to subhedral short prisms
Colour:
blue to green
Quality for species:
Poor for species, only of interest for locality collectors. (#)
Chrysoberyl locality, Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA