Detailed information
Species
Aragonite, var. Flos Ferri
Dimensions
78 x 102 x 87
mm
Weight
355 g
Locality
Styrian Erzberg Eisenerz Styria, Austria
Condition
No recorded repairs
This delicate form of Aragonite, known as Flos Ferri, or Flowers of Iron, has been known from Styrian Erzberg for centuries but is not made of iron, but calcium carbonate! The reason for its name is that it is found in the iron mines. This rather attractive cabinet specimen is quite sculptural in its form, like icing sugar piped around a cake and not just snow-white, but with a hint of peppermint-green too for good measure. Mining continues at Styrian Erzberg and so not all specimens are centuries old. Judging by the quality of this piece, and its exceptional condition, it is a more modern find, but the printed German collection hints at perhaps within the past century.
