Okenite: God's Cotton Balls

     Okenite is a mineral that has very small crystals. Okenite crystals are usually acicular, that is, they look like needles, and are white, yellow-white, or blue-white in color. Okenite crystals are small, usually no more than a millimeter or two in length, and usually grow together as spherical aggregations of crystals that are often found in a radiating pattern. These spheres are made of okenite crystals that are packed closely together. Some crystals manage to protrude from this mass and give the little spheres a hairy appearance. Such aggregations of okenite are often called “cotton balls” because of their resemblance. Okenite can be found as single, blade-like crystals very rarely. Okenite crystals also exhibit a property that is quite rare in minerals: they are flexible. If you happen to have a specimen of okenite and would like to see the crystals’ flexibility then you can try bending one of the tiny crystals with something like a sewing pin, but DO NOT TOUCH THE SPECIMEN! The tiny okenite crystals can be crushed and stained easily by the human hand. In fact I do not recommend testing the elasticity of the okenite crystals at all, I am merely relaying the directions that I received from those who sold the okenite to me. I assume that these directions are safe enough, but I don’t want to risk damaging my fuzzy cotton balls. This brings up an important tip for collectors: it is a good idea to store okenite specimens in a way that they are safe from harm. I keep mine in a plastic case called a “perky box” so as to protect it from being mistakenly touched. I also glued it to a piece of Styrofoam that fits into the bottom of the case so that it won’t roll.
     Okenite is prized by collectors for its unique crystals and its rarity. Okenite is not used in jewelry because it is so soft, not to mention that its crystals are far to small to facet. Scientists are studying ways in which okenite might be used in industry, but so far nothing has been found.
Places where okenite can be found include: India, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Israel, parts of the United States, and even Antarctica.
     Okenite is really unique among minerals. Its crystals are very small, and they are even flexible, I don’t know of any other minerals that are! Okenite can form whimsical cotton balls which look soft and inviting to touch, but please do not touch them!