Goethite ps. Kutnohorite

A dark olive-green with pink-colored matrix cabinet specimen of Goethite replacing Kutnohorite on a red Hematite matrix from the Wessels Mine in South Africa. This is a very unique pseudomorph where an iron oxyhydroxide (Goethite) has replaced much of the calcium-manganese carbonate (Kutnohorite) indicating very different conditions during original formation and subsequent replacement! It is a very complex specimen with respect to textures and chemistry. It features original pink sheaves of divergent Kutnohorite to 2.5 cm as well as fracture fillings in red-brown, massive Hematite that still contain pink, granular Kutnohorite. The Kutnohorite sheaves have now been almost totally replaced by the dark green Goethite due to oxidation at a later time in the paragenesis of the piece. A very unusual piece with complementary colors that has quite the story to tell! This is the largest such example we have seen for sale and should be from the 1980s or older. Part of an educational set, with these additional items: Goethite (SYP25-17a) and Kutnohorite with Manganoan Calcite (SYP25-17c).

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Kutnohorite, Goethite

SizeCabinet

Dimensions12.6 x 8.4 x 7.1 cm

Locality

South Africa, Northern Cape, Wessels Mine

Added on05/25/2025

Comments

Known provenance

2025/11