Exquisite Olkusz Schalenblende: Hand-Polished Sphalerite, Galena, Marcasite with Colloform Texture

Olkusz Schalenblende Masterpiece: Polished Banded Sphalerite, Galena & Marcasite Slice

Size: 101 gram

Weight: 85mm x 51mm x 6mm

Origin:  Olkusz Mine, Southern Poland

Presenting an exquisite Olkusz Schalenblende slice, a testament to nature's artistry, featuring a captivating colloform texture. This hand-polished specimen boasts a single meticulously polished side, revealing a stunning array of concentric bands in earthy tones of brown, grey, and cream. Glimmering inclusions of metallic galena are beautifully interspersed throughout, adding a striking contrast. The unpolished reverse side offers a raw, tactile experience of the mineral's natural formation.

Schalenblende is a unique mineral aggregate primarily composed of banded sphalerite, galena, and marcasite. Sphalerite, a zinc sulfide, forms the dominant layered structures, its varied hues reflecting the presence of trace elements. Galena, a lead sulfide, typically appears as lustrous, metallic grey patches. Marcasite, an iron sulfide, can also be present, contributing to the specimen's complex and captivating texture. The "colloform" texture refers to the rounded, botryoidal, or reniform (kidney-shaped) forms that these minerals take as they grow in concentric layers, often seen as bubbly or grape-like structures when viewed in cross-section. 

This remarkable formation occurs through a process of rhythmic precipitation from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids within open cavities, often in karstic limestone environments. As the mineral-rich solutions slowly deposit their contents, different minerals or varying concentrations of the same mineral precipitate in successive, rounded layers, leading to the distinctive colloform banding. The Olkusz region in Poland is world-renowned for producing some of the finest examples of Schalenblende with exceptional colloform textures, making these specimens highly significant to collectors and relatively rare.

Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this magnificent and texturally rich piece of natural history. Elevate your collection with this exquisite Olkusz Schalenblende today!

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