Large Hematite ps. After Marcasite (Dr. B. Phillips Coll.)

Item Description

A fantastic, extremely large and elongated, unusually shaped example of these famous pseudos from a remote area of Egypt. Most specimens from here are stellate sprays and are miniatures to small cabinets. This stunning piece looks like a stalactite with striking blocky and spiky appendages! Lustrous, nicely burnished brown hematite has replaced the marcasite crystals. Both ends are hollow, there are two holes in the sides, but the tube does not go all the way through. These were originally formed as marcasite crystals on the sea bottom and were then pseudomophed, retaining their fantastic form. They were dug in the remote western desert of southwest Egypt by Parisian dealer Alain Carion and his son in the mid-1990s. No more have been found. Ex Dr. Barratt Phillips Collection. Every turn presents a different perspective! A RARE and most imposing LARGE example of this strange looking pseudomorph. Certainly one of the finest large examples we have seen.