Goethite ''ball'' on Smoky Quartz (''snail'') (Mined: 1984)

Item Description

I'm sure most people are familiar with the famous Rhodochrosite "snail" specimen from the N'Chwaning Mine in South Africa (see https://www.facebook.com/AmazingGeologist/photos/one-of-the-worlds-most-iconic-specimens-considered-by-many-collectors-the-best-m/3520358948057419/?paipv=0&eav=Afbn2GETD9NErrPiMqAgQX1unJ671N9af0HIiKrq4GToVt6geKEAKDqVX9eJQD5gA6k&_rdr). Dave adored this piece and then in 1984 he personally collected this Goethite on Smoky Quartz and referred to is as his "snail". This is a fine quality small cabinet display specimen from one of the most storied and well known districts in Colorado. The various pegmatites near the Crystal Peak / Lake George area of Colorado have produced some of the best crystallized specimens of Goethite in the world. This wonderful specimen features a fine radiating group of Goethite, comprising lustrous, brown-black / golden, metallic crystals measuring 3.6 cm across, sitting atop Smoky Quartz matrix. There are a few additional groups of Goethite on the piece for a nice touch, but it's the main "ball" that draws the eye. I would valued this one in the $1,500 range. For the size, quality and aesthetics, this is an excellent Goethite that would fit wonderfully into any collection. This might be a "black rock" but these Goethites are some of the finest crystallized examples of the species extant! It's important to emphasize that this is CRYSTALLIZED Goethite, not massive and amorphous material, and specimens like this are few and far between from Colorado, or anywhere else in the world. It should be noted that this mineral was named after the famous German philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and the correct pronunciation of the species is GER-tite (with a hard "g" like gold). This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".