Weird botryoidal Baryte, Marcasite & Siderite (Rare combo) Robertson Coll.

Item Description

This ancient iron mine, abandoned in 1963, is well-known for these weird looking iron oxide-tinted balls of microcrystalline barite. This RARE and sculptural combination is highlighted by the striking well-placed 1.5 cm isolated ball and the cluster of intergrown balls. RARE combination accessories on the very vuggy gossan matrix are the aesthetically set string of bronzy marcasite crystals and the numerous patches of lustrous, golden siderite rhombs, especially those in the prominent vugs in the front of the piece. The broken barite ball is noted, but has minimal impact to the overall importance of the fine combination rarity. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 3288 and acquired from a German in March, 1964. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). A rare, very showy, perhaps unique combination from this old iron mine.