Eisenkiesel on Dark Violet Fluorite from Johannesschacht, Wölsendorf

This large Eisenkiesel specimen from the Johannesschacht near Wölsendorf in Bavaria, Germany, shows an extensive reddish to reddish-brown Quartz mineralization on dark violet Fluorite. Eisenkiesel is the traditional name used for iron-bearing, commonly hematite-colored Quartz. The Fluorite forms the underlying matrix of the specimen and remains clearly visible in several areas between and beneath the Eisenkiesel coatings.

Measuring 12.0 × 10.0 × 7.0 cm and weighing 816.7 g, this is a large cabinet specimen. Large parts of the surface are covered by densely packed, very small Quartz crystals whose reddish coloration is caused by iron-bearing, respectively hematitic components.

Reddish Eisenkiesel on dark violet Fluorite

The Eisenkiesel forms broad rounded to cushion-like coatings across the specimen. The surface consists of numerous very small, densely intergrown Quartz crystals that show a fine crystalline sparkle under direct illumination.

The coloration ranges from gray-brown and beige-brown areas to distinctly reddish and reddish-brown zones. This iron-related coloration is characteristic of Eisenkiesel.

Beneath the Quartz crust, dark violet Fluorite is visible in several places. Especially along the sides and lower parts of the specimen, violet Fluorite areas are clearly exposed and form a strong color contrast with the reddish Eisenkiesel.

Johannesschacht in the Wölsendorf fluorite mining district

The Johannesschacht near Wölsendorf belongs to the historic Wölsendorf fluorite mining district in the Upper Palatinate. For a long period, the district was one of Germany’s important mining areas for Fluorite and is also well known mineralogically for its diverse Fluorite associations.

The combination of Eisenkiesel with dark violet Fluorite is well documented from the Johannesschacht. This specimen displays that characteristic association on an unusually large matrix and therefore illustrates the mineralogical character of the historic Wölsendorf district particularly well.