Aragonite

hematite (?)

A cavernous and irregular boxwork of recrystallised carbonate extensively lined with pseudohexagonal trillings of aragonite (to 20 mm). The aragonite twins have a characteristic reverse taper (i.e. wider towards the terminations) and a reddish-pink colour towards the base of the crystals, premsuably due to iron oxide - hematite (?) - inclusions. The habit is consistent with the Pb-bearing tarnowitzite variety of aragonite, although this specimen has not been analysed.

The specimen was number 157 in the collectiuon of Clement Victor Latz, which was donated to the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources (now Geoscience Australia) in 1976. There is no record of earlier provenance or location in the mine.