Siderite (rare faceted stone)

Item Description

Siderite is a common carbonate mineral, but it's rarely found in gem quality crystals, as it's often opaque. Siderite takes its name from the Greek word "sideros" - iron, reflecting its iron content, so it's often a very dark brown color. This stone is a remarkable gem quality example of Siderite with a brighter than average, greenish-brown hue and excellent internal clarity. The stone has an "oval brilliant" cut and looks great in both sunlight and indoor lighting. I haven't seen a Portuguese faceted Siderite available in years, and if you collect unusual / rare gems, don't let this attractive and unique stone pass you by, as it could be a long time before we have another one like it.