Pyrite from the Tiefenstein Quarry
I have recently come across some interesting pyrite crystals from Tiefenstein granite quarries, Görwihl, Waldshut, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This is a site I am not familiar with and Mindat has sparse information on it. No matter. Here are a few images from some samples from this locality.
The first picture, Specimen A, shows almost barrel shaped crystals of dodecahedra modified by tiny octahedral faces on some corners. The FOV is about 3 mm.
Next are two photos of Specimen B showing an unusual V shaped group of 2 elongated pyrite crystals. Each of these crystals is an elongated bar or rod with chisel-tipped terminations. The FOV is approx. 2 mm in each photo.
There are also 2 photos of specimen C. The first photo shows a tangle of crystals of different habits including some elongated crystals with right angle bends. In the centre is an unusual crystal looking somewhat like a golf ball perched on a tee. The second photo is a closeup view. Together the ball on the tee is almost 1 mm tall.
I’m always looking for well formed and unusual pyrite crystals so I’ll pay special attention to material from the Tiefenstein quarries.