Goethite

specimen number:
1052608

location:
Rakos hill, Roznava, Kosice, Slovakia

description:

Showy iridescent lustrous botryoidal goethite across the top of matrix. The colors on this are fantastic. Classic old historical specimen, in great condition and the piece comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. This label gives an acquisition date of 1911.

Rakos Hill, located near the village of Rakos in the Gemer region of southern Slovakia, is a significant site within the Slovak Ore Mountains known for its iron and mercury deposits. Geologically, the hill is composed of Paleozoic sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that were heavily mineralized by hydrothermal activity, resulting in massive siderite veins that underwent extensive oxidation. This oxidation process created thick gossans rich in secondary iron minerals, most notably goethite, which often occurs here in stunning botryoidal, stalactitic, and velvety forms with a characteristic dark brown to iridescent black luster. Historically, mining and quarrying activities on Rakos Hill date back to at least the 14th century, with the most intensive industrial extraction of iron ore occurring during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to support the regional Austro-Hungarian steel industry. While mercury mining also took place sporadically at the nearby Rakos-Bana site, the iron workings on the hill itself were the primary focus for centuries before declining in the mid-1900s.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.