Specular Hematite (RARE for Wisconsin)

Item Description

VERY RARE, striking and rich solid small cabinet specimen of shimmering, scintillating specular hematite from a most obscure mine in the Menominee Iron Range of Wisconsin - the Great Eastern Mine. Both sides of the sculptural, layered, tabular specimen really sparkle in bright light. MINDAT does NOT list a Great Eastern Mine for Florence County. Mines in the area were active from 1880 to 1960. From the worldwide mineral collection of Al Kidwell, who passed away in 2008. Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. Rare, perhaps UNIQUE specular hematite from this obscure iron mine.