The 3rd entry in my series of rock and mineral specimens is a rare and beautiful metallic Marcasite Spheres with Micro Sphalerite Crystals on "Schalenblende" from the Pomerzany Mine in Boleslaw Commune, Olkusz County, Malopolska Province, Poland. The piece measures approximately 4.1 cm x 3.3 cm!
This is an unusual specimen for this locality, as most specimens from this mine are usually slabbed and polished sections of the Schalenblende matrix showing of the gorgeous banded patterns formed by the thin alternating mineral layers. This piece features several botryoidal Marcasite spheres which are perched upon minute orange Sphalerite crystals, which are covering the top of a small section of Schalenblende matrix. In general, it also quite rare for Marcasite to form botryoidal formations with rounded crystal groupings such as this. Schalendblende is a local name given to the mineral deposits found in this area of Poland which form banded alternating layers of several minerals, including Marcasite, Sphalerite, Wurtzite, Galena and sometimes Pyrite. The last picture, Pic #4, shows the fine banding patters present on this specimen. This is a beautiful example of several widely used lead ore minerals that this mine is famous for.
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Pic #1
Pic #2
Pic #3
Pic #4