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Pyrrhotite Siderite & Calcite

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QRI671813

Pyrrhotite Siderite & Calcite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Morro Velho Mine, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Cabinet (10-18 cm)
Size: 
10.9 × 7.9 × 4 cm
Largest Crystal: 
1.90cm
Description

An exceptional specimen of pyrrhotite from Morro Velho. Perfectly shaped platy groups, with fresh metallic luster. One pyrrhotite is a stack of progressively smaller hexagons, looking like a pagoda. The other is the largest, approx 1.5 cm long, which is very sizeable for the locality. The contrast is excellent, as the pyrrhotite is grown in the midst of white calcite and yellow siderite, both with good luster. The carbonates display occasional transparency, especially at the tips of the crystals.
In these kind of specimens it is often possible to spot small brassy cubanite crystals - not clearly detected on this one.

Very rich oldtimer from this renowned Brazilian locality, difficult to find nowadays. Double sided specimen, it is a mineralized crest, with coverage. The specimen is certainly a couple decades old. It was part of an Italian collection I have acquired this summer.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Pyrrhotite

Formula: 
Fe1-xS (x = 0 to 0.17)
Strunz: 
2.CC.10
Crystal System: 
Monoclinic
Hardness: 
3.5 - 4.0

Siderite

Formula: 
FeCO3
Strunz: 
5.AB.05
Crystal System: 
Trigonal
Hardness: 
3.5 - 4.5
Streak: 
White

Calcite

Polymorph of: 
Formula: 
CaCO3
Strunz: 
5.AB.05
Crystal System: 
Trigonal
Hardness: 
3.0
Streak: 
White

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