Stalactitical Oxide of Iron

This specimen of stalactitical hæmatitic Oxide of Iron is remarkable for being so closely surrounded with Rock Crystal, in a very curious situation. It is apparent that the Iron has been precipitated in a very moist state, and was not likely to penetrate the Rock Crystal, which therefore has surrounded the Iron, and must evidently have been formed at the same time with the Iron, or afterwards; but this latter is certainly most probably.

This is the blackest state of Hæmatites, with the radiating fracture, its common character.

This specimen is from Cornwall, the rocks of which country are generally supposed to be of primitive formation.