{"product_id":"polished-large-verdite-sphere-x-1-from-barberton-south-africa","title":"Polished Large Verdite Sphere x 1 From Barberton, South Africa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA NOTE FROM NICK \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eA large 107 mm sized expertly polished Verdite sphere from the Barberton Green Belt, some of the oldest rock on earth, and it polishes up into the most incredible deep greens and golds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRODUCT DESCRIPTION \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeautiful Verdite From Nelspruit, South Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eSouth African Verdite is an ancient metamorphic rock composed primarily of Fuchsite, a chromium-rich variety of Muscovite Mica, alongside Corundum, Quartz, and various accessory minerals. Found almost exclusively in the Barberton Greenstone Belt of Mpumalanga, South Africa, Verdite is estimated to be approximately 3.5 billion years old, making it one of the oldest decorative stones on earth. Its colour ranges from rich forest green to golden yellow and olive, produced by the high chromium content of the Fuchsite component, with swirling patterns and colour variation determined by the distribution of accessory minerals throughout the rock. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eASSOCIATED MINERALS \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eFuchsite, Corundum, Quartz, Muscovite\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eASSOCIATED FEATURES \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eMonoclinic, Vitreous, Silky, Chatoyant\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eASSOCIATED COLOURS \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eGreen, Gold, Olive, Yellow, Brown\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMOHS HARDNESS SCALE\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e3 - 4\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRODUCT DATA \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eLocality = Barberton, South Africa\u003cbr\u003eGrade = Very Good Grade\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e                      \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize = 107 mm\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VERDITE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50425563283649,"sku":"186-463-260721BM","price":1666.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2066\/6451\/files\/186463_6.jpg?v=1784896340","url":"https:\/\/www.toprocks.com\/products\/polished-large-verdite-sphere-x-1-from-barberton-south-africa","provider":"Toprock Gemstones and Minerals ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}