Siderite and Sphalerite ps. After Calcite

Item Description

A dramatic and showy CABINET specimen from a small find that was brought out at Munich in 2006. These very unusual, barrel-shaped crystals are actually epimorphs, i. e. casts after calcite crystals, which have been dissolved away. Microprobe analysis in South Africa by Bruce Cairncross and others shows that the shimmering, metallic-like coating is a mixture of siderite and sphalerite. The piece is very light weight for its size and, in fact, the casts are hollow, as the one broken crystal on the right reveals. Interesting, totally unique new find from last year!