Crystal collecting at Hermannstein, near Wetzlar in Hesse, is closely associated with the historic workings and quarries of Simberg, where extraction of limestone and manganese ores exposed mineralized cavities and alteration zones. The former Malapertus Mine, an ancient manganese operation abandoned in 1931, produced manganite, pyrolusite, and psilomelane, while the adjoining limestone quarry has yielded calcite, dolomite, quartz, nontronite, and manganese oxides. Although Hermannstein was not primarily a commercial source of gemstones, quarrying and mining provided opportunities for recovery of crystallized material, particularly quartz and calcite, from fractures and cavities within the limestone.
This specimen is a bed of lustrous calcite crystals with a very unique character in texture. Towards the terminations, the overgrowths become lustrous and complex. From the JHoppner Collection, dated April 1984.
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(3.5 × 2.5 × 1.8 in - 8.8 × 6.3 × 4.5 cm) 6.1oz / 173g
ORDERS SHIP MONDAYS
Crystal collecting at Hermannstein, near Wetzlar in Hesse, is closely associated with the historic workings and quarries of Simberg, where extraction of limestone and manganese ores exposed mineralized cavities and alteration zones. The former Malapertus Mine, an ancient manganese operation abandoned in 1931, produced manganite, pyrolusite, and psilomelane, while the adjoining limestone quarry has yielded calcite, dolomite, quartz, nontronite, and manganese oxides. Although Hermannstein was not primarily a commercial source of gemstones, quarrying and mining provided opportunities for recovery of crystallized material, particularly quartz and calcite, from fractures and cavities within the limestone.
This specimen is a bed of lustrous calcite crystals with a very unique character in texture. Towards the terminations, the overgrowths become lustrous and complex. From the JHoppner Collection, dated April 1984.
Thank you so much for viewing! Please message for any further information
(3.5 × 2.5 × 1.8 in - 8.8 × 6.3 × 4.5 cm) 6.1oz / 173g
ORDERS SHIP MONDAYS
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