Geyserite (Sinter) (''Fiorite'')

Item Description

Here we have a rarely seen and notably attractive specimen of what was labeled as "Fiorite", which according to the entry on mindat, is not actually a species, nor a variety, but rather a, "botryoidal form of geyserite", which is in turn an, "opaline sinter that is often found around hot springs and geysers". Sinter is defined as a white opaline siliceous-rock, but it's not actually a mineral species. With that said, some of these specimens have been labeled as Opal, which is not 100% accurate, as they are technically a rock. Good quality display specimens are still notably rare on the market, and this particular piece from Santa Fiora (Monte Amiata) in Italy is the best one we've ever had to offer. For reference, these specimens were first written up in the late 1700s, but it's impossible to know if this particular piece dates back that far, or is from a more recent discovery. It features a full coverage of beautiful, almost "pearly" botryoidal aggregates of egg-shell colored "Fiorite" (the accompanying label from Vignoli Vittorio refers to it as "Opal" for reference), measuring up to 7 mm across, on matrix. The "Fiorite" balls have an almost translucent quality to them and they almost look like little eggs when viewed from a distance. A really interesting, rare and unique piece that you're not likely to find anywhere else on the market from this old mercury mining area.