MOUNTAIN LEATHER - Devon

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‘MOUNTAIN LEATHER’

Meldon Aplite Quarry,
near Okehampton, Devon

A number of minerals form flexible, sheet-like formations which resemble leather or cloth. An informal name for these natural fabric-like minerals is ‘mountain leather’.

This specimen consists of the mineral palygorskite - a magnesium and aluminium silicate. It is stiff and only very slightly flexible but it's a reasonable example.

This specimen is from an old university collection. It is accompanied by an old label from the mineral dealer R.F.D. Parkinson (1928 - 1993) of Shepton Mallet.

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Size: 6.5 x 5 x 0.1 centimetres
Weight: 2 grams