Hematite

Item Description

Hematite is a well-known iron oxide species, found in countless localities around the world. Crystalographically, it's one of the most diverse species ranging from thin tabular blades, to blocky rhombs to tapered scalenohedrons to botryoidal forms, along with many other beautiful habits. The renowned crystals from the Wessels Mine in South Africa are some of the finest crystals of the species ever seen with superb form and incredibly high luster. This small cabinet specimen hosts several excellent trigonal crystals measuring up to 1.8 cm long, showing brilliant gun metal color with highly reflective faces and gentle striations in places. Most of the crystals are in fine shape, though there is some peripheral roughness where the piece was separated from the pocket wall. Minor accenting white Calcite makes for a nice touch. The faces of the crystals are like metallic mirrors, the luster is supreme for the species, but it's what you'd expect from a fine Wessels Hematite.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#59 SA), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the coming months and years through our various platforms.