Description
Sprays of radial Astrophyllite crystals with a great pearly luster densely cover this small cabinet-sized specimen. The crystals are metallic brown and partially translucent. The species was named way back in 1854 for its sun-shaped appearance: Greek "astron" for "star" and "phyllon" for "leaf", in allusion to its habit of starburst-like sprays and micaceous cleavage. A typical specimen for this species from the Khibiny Massif in Russia.