Reviews
3.25" Iridescent Marcasite Crystals on Barite - Linwood Mine, Iowa
This is a beautiful, 3.25" wide cluster of massive marcasite crystals collected from the Linwood Mine in Buffalo, Iowa. The crystals exhibit a gorgeous iridescence and spray outward in every direction. They are contained on a matrix of large barite crystals with grayish phantoms. This is part of a small collection of stalactites discovered in the mine within the last few years.
This specimen comes with an acrylic display stand.
This specimen comes with an acrylic display stand.
The Linwood Mine has been in operation since 1944: to this day, it ranks as one of the largest limestone mining locations in the United States. On relatively rare occasions, a vug containing minerals will be opened in the mining process, which are then extracted and saved. These vugs often contain beautiful crystal aggregations of calcite, barite, and marcasite, some of which are considered world-class quality specimens.
About Marcasite
Marcasite is an iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula FeS2. It is similar to pyrite in both its chemical composition and appearance, but it forms an entirely different crystal structure and is much more reactive to humidity. It is often found within sedimentary rock and hydrothermal deposits, and at one point was used for its sulfur content.
Marcasite is an iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula FeS2. It is similar to pyrite in both its chemical composition and appearance, but it forms an entirely different crystal structure and is much more reactive to humidity. It is often found within sedimentary rock and hydrothermal deposits, and at one point was used for its sulfur content.
SPECIES
Marcasite & Barite
LOCATION
Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa
SIZE
3.25" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#293592
