Goethite from Lake Superior Mine, Michigan, USA

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Somewhat unhelpfully there are many Lake Superior mines in Michigan, but a specialist might find interest in this rather unusual specimen. It is banded botryoidal Goethite of the variety known as 'Wood Iron'. This is where the internal concentric layers, or bands of Goethite vary in colour from dark brown to shades of orange, giving the impression of a cut section through a tree trunk. At larger miniature in size it is a nice piece for viewing or for a smaller display. Based on this being a type of iron ore one would assume that the most likely candidate mine is the Lake Superior iron mine in Marquette County, rather than the nearby gold mine. Ex David Hardman collection, no. 1314.