Cronstedtite with Pyrite, Calcite

specimen number:
2341217

location:
Wadi Beht, Oulmes Cercle, Khemisset, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Morocco

description:
Good rich example for the species, black satiny lustrous crystal groupings of cronstedtite measuring to 0.5 cm in size covering a large portion of the top of matrix with calcite and pyrite. This is in very good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Jan Erik Larsen.

Located along the banks of the Beht River in the Oulmes district of central Morocco, the geology of the Wadi Beht area consists of Paleozoic limestones, shales, and tin-bearing skarns formed by low-temperature hydrothermal fluid alterations near igneous intrusive bodies. Artisanal miners and mineral collectors historically explored these late-stage skarn cavities and alteration zones, which produced notably rare mineral specimens. Among these discoveries, the site is notable for yielding cronstedtite, an uncommon iron-rich silicate mineral belonging to the serpentine group. Collector specimens of cronstedtite from this locality typically exhibit dark, lustrous, dark-brown to black triangular or pyramidal crystal aggregates, highly prized due to the relative global scarcity of well-formed crystals of this species.

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