Hematite (Slickensides)

specimen number:
2062362

location:
Florence Mine, Florence Co., Wisconsin, USA

description:
Massive piece of hematite, this exhibiting what is known geologically as slickensides, the result of faulting.

The Florence Mine, located in Florence County, Wisconsin, operated from 1880 to 1931, transitioning from an initial open pit to extensive underground workings. Geologically, the site is known for producing high-grade soft hematite and limonite direct-shipping ore, which formed through the secondary enrichment, oxidation, and leaching of interlayered chert and siderite sedimentary iron formations.

Slickensides are polished and striated rock surfaces that develop along fault planes. They are formed by friction when two blocks of rock slide past one another during tectonic movement, often helping geologists determine the direction of fault slip.

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