Detailed information
Species
Siderite
Dimensions
85 x 40 x 40
mm
Locality
St. Pierre de Message Vizille, Isère, Rhône-Alpes France
Condition
No recorded repairs
Siderites from the area around Vizille in France are some of the most outstanding examples of the species in the world. This compact specimen is no exception, composed of an aesthetic array of interlocking, upright, thin bladed crystals with crisp sharp edges, built from overlapping, reptilian scale-like crystals. The near opaque, pale buff coloured Siderite crystals are associated with a few small terminated white to clear Quartz crystals, a frequent association in this area. The Pierre Rousse mine, from where this specimen most likely originates, is an extremely old lead-zinc mine, 15 km due south of Grenoble. A most attractive specimen of large scaly and perfectly formed Siderite crystals with an eye-catching glassy to slight waxy lustre.