Hematite and Baryte, with Quartz (circa late 1800s)

Item Description

Renowned mammilary Hematite, known as "kidney ore," is most famous from the Florence iron mine but usually occurs alone and so associations are extremely rare! The silvery, rust-red botryoids have intense coloration and a fine lustre. They are classically accented with sparkly, tiny Hematite-included Quartz crystals that lay in the valleys between the mounds. What makes this classic piece extraordinary are the highly unusual, bladed Baryte crystals, to 2.5 cm, that form a crowning wreath along one edge. Truly, this a piece is both aesthetic and amazing at the same time. To simply label this as choice, old-time material would be an understatement. It is so different than "all the rest" and really stands out, so it is difficult to value as there are not comparables.