siderite

A vug in massive sulphide ore is lined with mustard-yellow and yellow-brown Fe oxides, probably including goethite (?). In part, these oxides appear pseudomorphous after lenticular sub-mm crystals of siderite (?). A later generation of gemmy, yellow to sherry-brown scalenohedral siderite crystals (to 5 mm) has formed on the earlier crust of Fe oxides (Exhibit 2). The composition of the sulphide matrix has not been determined but it appears to be chalcocite (?) dominant.

The sepcimen was purchased ffrom Rob Lavinsky in 2008 and was formerly in the collection of South African dealer/collector Rob Smith. The location in the mine is not recorded.

chalcocite (?); goethite (?)