Chrysanthemum Stones

The "Chrysanthemum Stone" occurs naturally in the Hunan region of China. As the name implies, it is shaped like a Chrysanthemum flower. Most of the specimens are collected from river beds.

The actual 'flowers" are embedded in a grey limestone with the minerals Celestite and Calcite constituting the "petal" and Chert the "stamen".

Normally the diameter of the flower ranges from 5 to 8 cm with the maximum being 50cm, The "flowers" are varied in shape with their petals stretching out freely in different attitudes.

The "Chrysanthemum Stone" contains more than ten kinds of trace elements such as Selenium, Strontium, Gold, Silver and Bismuth.

The "Chrysanthemum Stone" shown was purchased at the "National Dinosaur Museum" in Canberra just down the road from "Cockington Green" off the Barton Highway. Their email address is

natdinom@interact.com.au

http://www.contact.com.au/dino-museum/.

The price was $30.00 and the specimen is 6cm across.

Much of the information in this document comes from the documentation that comes with each specimen that is purchased.

In china specimens of the stone have been carved into various shapes for display. Whilst browsing the net I came upon the page of the

I include a few photos lifted from their page and suggest that a visit is worth while.

http://www.prcart.com/index.html

Chrysanthemum Stones have been used to compliment Bonsai for many years. The following specimens were used in displays in Japan.