Siderite on Quartz

Item Description

This is a striking, sharp mineral specimen with unique aesthetics! Now closed, the Sauberg Mine was a well-known tin-tungsten deposit that produced a wide array of minerals, including Silver minerals and two type-locality species. Quartz/Siderites combinations from there are uncommon, and this large small-cabinet specimen stands out among those. The long, tapering Quartz crystals, up to about 3 cm, have lustrous and slightly-etched faces. Most are well-terminated (a few crystals are simply missing), and they have an unusual, grey coloration from a super-fine dusting of inclusions (perhaps maybe Molybdenite or Hematite?). The Siderites have their typical, disc-like habit for Saurberg, and they present themselves in densely-packed, mm-sized rosettes. The rosettes then form shrouds around the Quartz crystals. Such preferential effects are always fascinating, and in this case they create a very dramatic aesthetic that is even better when you set it out and gaze upon it live. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl, 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.