Quartz var. Eisenkiesel on Hematite

A small cabinet specimen of Quartz and Specular Hematite on Hematite from the wonderful Florence mine at Egremont, west Cumbria, England.  A flattened, thin 9 x 7 cm plate of Hematite forms a slightly undulating, crab shell-like matrix coated on both top and bottom surfaces by an almost continuous layer of micro to 1 mm sized crystals of lustrous metallic black Specular Hematite, the crystallised tabular to flaky variety of Hematite.  Colourless to milky Quartz forms a string and some individual crystals across the display surface, averaging 2 to 3 mm with a brilliant lustre.  Highlighting the specimen is a 3.5 x 2 cm area of deep apricot orange-red Eisenkiesel, a variety of Quartz with Hematite inclusions.