Erebus Crystal

 An Erebus crystal is the common name for a mineral called anorthoclase, a type of feldspar found in the immediate area surrounding Mount Erebus in Antarctica^[1]. This particular feldspar crystal is rich in sodium, potassium, and aluminum silicate.^[2][3] It can also be found on Mount Kenya.^[4]

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Though the formation and growth of these crystals is not well understood,^[5] it is evident that the crystals grow in the magma beneath Mount Erebus and are ejected out of the mountain encased in glassy volcanic bombs. This glass structure quickly weathers away leaving the mountainside covered in crystals.^[6]

It is reported that these crystals are highly coveted possessions, prized by almost everyone at McMurdo Station.^[7]

References