Babingtonite with Hornblende, Epidote and Magnetite from the Bråstad Mines, Norway

This interesting small cabinet specimen comes from the historic Bråstad Mines in the Arendal area of Norway. Numerous lustrous, deep-black babingtonite crystals sit on a dark, hornblende-rich matrix and are particularly well developed in the upper part of the specimen.

Green epidote creates a striking color contrast with the dark minerals. The matrix is weakly magnetic, indicating the presence of magnetite. The association of babingtonite, hornblende, epidote, and magnetite is characteristic of the iron-rich skarn mineralization of the Arendal area.

Classic Babingtonite Locality near Arendal

The Bråstad Mines are among the historic iron mines of the Arendal area in Agder, Norway. The deposits are part of extensive metamorphosed magnetite skarn occurrences that were mined for several centuries.

Babingtonite, epidote, hornblende, and other skarn minerals have been documented from the Bråstad Mines. The Arendal area also has particular mineralogical and historical significance because babingtonite was first described from material originating in this region.

With dimensions of 5.5 × 4.5 × 3.5 cm and a weight of 117.8 g, this is a compact small cabinet specimen. The black babingtonite crystals, green epidote, and dark matrix form a varied and mineralogically characteristic association.