Rutile with Hematite

specimen number:
2072309

location:
Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Brazil

description:
A cluster of platy semi lustrous metallic hematite crystals, these hosting golden needlelike crystals of rutile. Some damage present as seen.

The Novo Horizonte area, located in the state of Bahia, Brazil, is situated within the Paramirim Aulacogen, a geological province known for its extensive Proterozoic quartzites and metasedimentary rocks. Geologically, the region features numerous hydrothermal veins and vugs that developed during tectonic deformation, providing an ideal environment for the growth of high-quality quartz and iron oxides. The locality is most famous for its extraordinary occurrences of rutile epitaxial on hematite, where bright, golden-yellow rutile needles grow at 60-degree angles from the faces of dark, metallic hematite crystals, following the underlying crystalline structure of the host. Historically, mining and quarrying in Novo Horizonte began in the early to mid-20th century, initially targeting industrial quartz and later shifting toward the artisanal extraction of high-grade mineral specimens and gemstones. While many of the workings consist of small-scale "garimpos" or tunnels operated by local miners, production has been remarkably consistent from the 1980s through the early 2020s.

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