Detailed information
Dimensions
41 x 32 x 25
mm
Locality
Mansfeld Basin Saxony-Anhalt Germany
Condition
No recorded repairs
A miniature containing two nickel arsenate minerals, Maucherite and Nickeline, from the Mansfeld Basin in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany; this being the type locality for Maucherite. The specimen is composed entirely of these two metallic species, save for small patches of pinkish-cream platy Baryte, each roughly 1 x 1 cm. Despite being metallic, the specimen is vuggy due to crystallised cavities and voids remaining from the dissolution of other previous species, i.e. epimorphs. The Maucherite appears as silver-gunmetal grey areas but displaying a reddish grey when the specimen in tilted in good light. The Nickeline is dull brassy-gold and is fairly well crystallised. An interesting combination of species from this once important mining district.