Siderite (Pseudomorph after Calcite) (Specimen #100240)

Mineral(s): Siderite, Quartz 

Location: Hogarth Pit, Steep Rock Iron Mine, Atikokan, Schwenger Twp. Rainy River, Ontario, Canada  

Size: 17.5 x 8.4 x 4.3 cm 

Provenance: Ray Bernatchez Collection  

Description:  A fantastic specimen of red-brown siderite as a pseudomorph after calcite. The shiny siderite crystals coat the replaced calcite rhombs and there are several transparent quartz crystals up to 3.2 cm embedded in the surface of the specimen. Pseudomorph specimens like this from the Steep Rock Iron Mine are very rare and sought after. The specimen is in excellent condition and can be positioned in several aspects for display.

This specimen is from Ray Bernatchez’s personal collection and was self-collected during his tenure as the mine geologist at Steep Rock Iron Mines. Steep Rock Iron Mines are long closed, but during the mining period of the 1950’s and 60’s the mines produced world class specimens of manganite, hematite, geothite, quartz and siderite.  The ore body was discovered in 1938 and over 110 million yards of silt, gravel and rock were removed to expose the ore body.  The development of the mine was an unparalleled engineering feat at its time. The mine is long closed and specimens like this are unattainable except from unique old collections. A recent visit to the mine reaffirmed that there will be no new collected specimens emerging from the flooded locale.