Hematite (classic locality)

Item Description

Mining on Elba Island dates back to the Etruscan times (roughly 2500 years ago), and specimens from this area are some of the great old European classics. The Hematites from Rio Marina are regarded as some of the best examples of the species ever found. This piece is a wonderful hefty small cabinet filled with layered thick blades of dark silvery-black metallic Hematite measuring up to 2.1 cm across, sitting atop massive Hematite matrix. There are crystals on both sides of the specimen, and if you look closely, they have a gentle "peacock" iridescence on the surface, a signature characteristic of the material. There is some roughness on the edges, so the piece is not pristine, but it's still a very attractive and showy example of this beloved material. Valued $950.