GOETHITE AND HEMATITE. ...

Description

GOETHITE AND HEMATITE
Luis Lopez Mining District, Chupadera Mountains, Socorro Co., New Mexico
Goethite is an iron ore known since prehistoric times, even detected in pigments from the famous cave paintings at Lascaux. When heated, it transforms into hematite, as has happened here, and so the outer surface of this specimen is comprised of a hydrothermally-formed hematite glaze. Probably precipitated by groundwater, this formation flowed into a cavity approximately 6.2 million years ago, capturing some of the surrounding rhyolite rocks, around which the goethite then solidified. It was removed from the active mining claim in October 2007 and displays minimal damage in spots around the outside edges from being pried away from the surrounding hydrothermal flow in the original rhyolite cavity. Uncommonly large, measuring 15 x 14 x 11 inches overall, weighing 112 lb, and for the successful bidder on this specimen there are also pictures available of its discovery and excavation.

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