Stichtite in Serpentine

Also known as "Atlantisite".

This material comes from the Dundas region of western Tasmania.

 

 Stichtite is formed as an alteration product of black chromite in green serpentinite, the soft, waxy mineral is usually found as small spots, knots or veins in the serpentine, and its colour ranges from pink through lilac to a rich purple.

The rock is thought to have originally formed from mantle-derived igneous intrusions crystallising below the sea floor, which were later altered to serpentine-stichtite rocks by low temperature fluids.