Bournonite on Siderite

Unknown Owner

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Georg mine at Willroth in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany was an ancient iron mine but the veins of Siderite (the iron ore) also contained lead, copper and zinc mineralization and was renowned for excellent individual, usually untwinned, Bournonite crystals. This small cabinet specimen from the superb collection assembled by brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021) is a plate of finely crystallized beige-coloured Siderite upon which many tabular gun-metal grey Bournonite crystals sit. There are many small (3 to 4 mm) crystals, but the main focus is an aggregate of larger crystals, the largest reaching over 2 cm on edge and although intergrown they display the simple tabular form as opposed to the twinned, 'cogwheel' form seen frequently elsewhere in the world. These larger crystals are in superb condition and stand upright from the matrix in an impressive display for the locality. Georg mine was abandoned in 1965 but most of the Bournonites from there in collections come from much earlier. Apart from the previous collectors label it is also accompanied by a quite old handwritten label, probably dating to the early 1900s. A really lovely European classic.