Hematite on Adularia and Quartz
stock #16.1-102
Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan,
Pakistan
7.1 x 4.2 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1450
Late Summer 2021
Lustrous flat crystals of Hematite esthetically perched on a contrasting matrix. The Hematites have some bright mirror-like faces and some faces with a dusting of Chlorite. The Adularia is also well-crystalized in stacked arrangements with a few small Quartz crystals tucked in as well. In exceptional condition, the individual Hematite crystals reach over 2.8 CM and are in nicely aligned clusters and stacks. The Alpine minerals of Pakistan can be incredible as seen here, and rival some of the famous finds in the European Alps. More impressive in person, a classic Alpine cleft assemblage. This looks great from several angles.
Hematite with Quartz (Eisenkiesel)
stock #15.1-334
Florence Mine, Egremont
Cumberland, Cumbria,
England
11.3 x 8 x 5.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $1900
new year 2021
A superb and very esthetic old "Eisenkiesel" that looks like a volcano showing bright red Quartz in the crater. The Hematite is a big heavy hemisphere on the outside, but the inside display side has the open oval void that is filled with sparkling blood red crystals mimicking lava. A small amount of the red Quartz seems to be flowing down one of the volcano sides. Looks great from most any angle, the color is more vivid than others I have seen from the UK and the form is exceptional, a top example from anyplace. In great condition, there is no damage. Classic.
Hematite pseudo after Magnetite
stock #AX-10-932
Payun Volcano, Altiplano de Payun Matru
Mendoza,
Argentina
4.7 x 3.7 x 3.2 CM (miniature)
price: $150
The Payún Volcano is a very unusual locality and the Hematites from this area are unusual too. This piece is a stack of octahedral crystals that had been Magnetites but are pseudomorphed to Hematite and are now coated with small sparkling Hematite crystals (Specularite type). On some of the octahedral faces it is easy to see the red Hematite crystal surface below the black sparkling crystals. The sculptural form of this miniature piece is quite elegant and there is no damage. This find of Hematites seems to be finished, they will rank as exceptional and are destined to be considered as classics.
Hematite with Quartz -unusual locality
stock #16.1-718
Dzhezkazgan Mining District
Karagandy Province,
Kazakhstan
4.7 x 3.8 x 2.8 CM (miniature)
price: $340
Choice, mirror bright metallic crystals in a stacked cluster from an unusual locality in Kazakhstan. The main crystal is a perfect hexagon 2.2 CM across. This mine is well known for excellent Copper minerals but this is the first fine Hematite we have seen. The Karagandy region has other localities for nice Hematites but this is both different in habit and better than most we have seen.
Saxony,
Germany
13.7 x 2.5 x 1.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
Spring 2020
A large, quite old German Hematite of the type we call "pencil ore" but are also called "swords" . This has the original label from the Philadelphia Acadamy collection with notation of the donor, John Hartman (1840-1910). We know that Hartman made bequests to the Acadamy between 1879 to 1905. Three older affixed collection numbers are on the specimen as well, so it is certainly much older than that. It is likely there was some confusion regarding the locality as it is listed as Glaskopf, Saxony, probably being copied from a small nearly illegible label on the specimen. At one time the word Glaskopf referred to a form or habit of Goethite and Hematite and not a locality that we know of. Regardless of that detail, this is a nice and sizable example of an early German Hematite with classic form, color and provenance.
Hematite with Rutile
stock #20.1-164
Cavradi gorge, Tujetsch, Surselva Region
Graubunden,
Switzerland
3 x 1.7 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $140
Spring 2020
Swiss Hematite with very well formed blades standing on minimal matrix. A close exam shows some tiny but brilliant red Rutile crystals on some faces. A nicely composed thumbnail (or toenail) that looks good from both sides. In excellent condition, a very lustrous and classic Alpine specimen. This specimen was originally labeled as from St Gotthard, but we are assured this habit with the epitaxial Rutile is unquestionably from Cavradi and is distinctive for the Cavradi Gorge.
Hematite - Goethite iridescent
stock #20.1-140
Covington Prospect, Alleghany County
Virginia,
United States
9.9 x 2.6 x 1.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $680
Spring 2020
Vivid colors and fine form on this older specimen from the Les Hitchings collection, obtained by trade in 1966. A botryoidal stalactitic form this piece comes from Covington, Virginia from an old Manganese prospect near the Peters mountain site which also produced this sort of Hematite. This is a super esthetic piece viewed from any angle and a killer for the location. The name Turgite is commonly used for the colorful "limonites" that are mixtures of Goethite and Hematite usually with the Goethite partly or fully altered to Hematite and showing iridescence. Impossible to find anything like this today on the market, a colorful and choice Virginia specimen.
Hematite Pseudo after Marcasite
stock #19.1-447
White Desert, Farafra Oasis
New Valley Governorate,
Egypt
5.4 x 4.8 x 3.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
These Hematite pseudos when they are good have an incredible form. This specimen is one of the very best I have seen, perfect, complete all around and with well developed faces. Marcasite is an unstable mineral that can decay over time but these pseudos are perfectly stable. The detail of growth is perfectly preserved and presented on all the faces and the form looks like a leaf. These are sporadically available but very few are of this size and sharp development. A superb pseudomorph and an very esthetic piece.
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