Pyromorphite

This large mine, about 0.5 km north of Braubach, in Bad Ems, Germany, produced several attractive mineral species, probably the most well known of which was Pyromorphite.  Pyromorphite from this locality is readily recognised by its pale orange-tan colour and tendency to form globular, spherical-shaped aggregates, on this specimen ranging from a few mm up to 1 cm in diameter.  These are built from radiating hexagonal Pyromorphite prisms with flat pinacoid terminations, the latter often having a slightly darked circumferential rim.  Covering a matrix of snow-white drusy Quartz which forms thin, sub-parallel plates, the Quartz is an aesthetic foil to the delicately coloured Pyromorphite.  Pyromorphite also richly coats the underside of the specimen, although on this face it is an almost smoky light grey.