Description
Detailed Description
Excellent concentric structure on this beautiful radiating spray of goethite crystals. The goethites are a rich brown colour, with more golden towards the tips. Good lustre – the crystals on this one are unusually fine (size) and so the overall look is a bright silky appearance. Minor rubbing at the periphery, not distracting as I would display it. Really nice, aesthetic goethite!
About These Goethites
Although goethite is a common mineral, it is uncommon to find collection-worthy specimens of crystallized goethite.
These goethite specimens were recently found in one of the huge chamber pegmatites at Volodarsk (which have long been famous for fantastic beryls and huge topaz crystals, to go along with monster quartz crystals). Currently work at Volodarsk has been largely curtailed and it is not clear whether any significant further work will be economically feasible. Prior to discontinuing most operations, the mining workings intersected a pocket which contained these radial sprays of goethite. I acquired them from the person who mined them out before the water table was allowed to submerge the pocket.
The detailed locality information for these (included on the label accompanying each specimen) is Pegmatite No. 597, Mine No. 3.
