Marcasite

specimen number:
2062414

location:
near Temple, Bell Co., Texas, USA

description:
Sharp golden crystals of marcasite measuring to 2.0 cm in size on matrix. In good condition with minimal damage present. This is still relatively stable.

Temple, Texas, situated in Bell County, was founded in June 1881 as a town site by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway and was later incorporated in 1882. Geologically, the area is underlain by Cretaceous-age sedimentary strata, primarily consisting of limestones, marls, and clays belonging to formations such as the Comanche Peak and Edwards groups. Within these local sedimentary layers and associated marine deposits, iron sulfides like marcasite and pyrite occasionally form as nodules, concretions, or replacement minerals due to chemical precipitation in reducing environments, though they are typically only found as minor mineral occurrences rather than major geologic deposits.

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