Ferro-gedrite; Spitzenberg, Harz, Germany; miniature specimen; unique piece

Ferro-gedrite from the Spitzenberg in the Harz – miniature specimen as a unique piece

This miniature specimen is a compact, dark gray to black piece with silvery-gray surfaces and occasional yellowish to rusty-brown areas. Its irregular fracture surfaces and the contrast between matte and slightly lustrous sections give the approximately 3 cm specimen a distinctive texture.

Geology & Origin

The Spitzenberg near Bad Harzburg is documented as a locality for several minerals, including gedrite, magnetite, ilmenite, and ilvaite. The area belongs to the geologically diverse Harz Mountains, whose rocks were folded during the Variscan orogeny and are shaped by igneous bodies. Ferro-gedrite is an iron-rich silicate in the gedrite group of amphiboles. The mineral diversity of the Spitzenberg makes it of interest to collectors of minerals from the Harz region.