Hematite ps. Marcasite (unusual form!) Whitmore Coll.

Item Description

A dramatic, sculptural and uncommon style of hematite after marcasite from this obscure locale. Most specimens from here have a stellate form. This striking 4-sided arborescent piece looks like a pine tree with a prominent "trunk" up the center with "branches" that project out at 90-degrees from the tree trunk. The blocky to elongated blocky pseudo crystals are nicely burnished brown with complimentary accents of brick-red oxides. The fatter "limbs" add character. An amazingly different and rare style 360-degree specimen with every turn presenting a different perspective. These were originally formed as marcasite crystals on the sea bottom and were then pseudomophed, retaining their fantastic form. They were dug up by Parisian dealer Alain Carion and his son in the mid-1990s. No more have been found. Ex Robert Whitmore Collection.