Description

Detailed Description

A large hemisphere of sharp hematite blades on matrix. It’s quite astounding this specimen is in such remarkable condition, as the hematite crystals are very thin. There is some minor quartz (I believe) among the hematite crystals and this has helped to support the hematite blades. This piece is a bit different from the typical specular hematite where crystals are sitting on a mass of more tightly-packed specular hematite – these crystals are on a hard, dense hematite base. It stands a little forward (stands naturally as in the first photo), so if you’re displaying it, it looks best on a higher or middle height display case shelf (rather than a lower shelf). From the Pete Richards collection, he collected it in July 1984. This is a super specimen!

About Pete Richards (click here)

About these Chub Lake Hematites

The Chub Lake prospect has been known since the 1850s, and fine specimens were collected there (and at area hematite mines in St. Lawrence Co., around Edwards and Fowler) in the 19th century. For quite some time in the 20th century, the localities had fallen into obscurity. In 1983, Chub Lake was rediscovered by George Robinson, Schuyler Alverson and Ronald Waddell, and for a time thereafter, it was worked by collectors for specimens. Pete Richards was one of those collectors – he collected there at the peak of this activity in 1984. The locality is no longer a prolific producer of collector specimens.