TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet


Goethita Acicular-Laminar

Goethita is a mineral with formula FeO(OH), in the Óxidos group. This specimen comes from La Lastrilla, Tordelrábano, Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, España and joined the Terrium collection in 1989.

Goethita Acicular-Laminar from La Lastrilla, Tordelrábano, Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, España — Terrium

Description

Lustrous black crystals with a fine prismatic habit lining a cavity. In places, the growths form extremely thin banded "ribbon" or "lamina" structures, nearly translucent in strong light.

About Goethita

Goethite (FeO(OH)) is an iron oxyhydroxide that typically forms in oxidised, low-temperature environments by alteration of iron-bearing minerals and in iron-rich sediments. At this occurrence it is found in carbonate nodules and in quartz or calcite geodes. The described acicular–laminar, ultrathin banded habit is very uncommon in Spanish goethites. These are goethite crystals in a calcite geode within the red sandstones of the Buntsandstein.

About the locality

The Tordelrábano outcrop (Guadalajara), discovered in the 1980s, yielded noted acicular goethite drapes in Iberian mineralogy. These geodes formed in carbonate nodules of the Lower Triassic—goethite crystals in calcite geodes within the red sandstones of the Buntsandstein. Constant traffic of collectors and visitors eventually disturbed local residents, who fenced off the area.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0360
Composition
FeO(OH)
Name
Goethita
Variety
Acicular-Laminar
Group
Óxidos
Category
Cavella
Matrix
Cuarzo, Calcita
Mine
La Lastrilla
District / Municipality
Tordelrábano
Province
Guadalajara
Region
Castilla-La Mancha
Country
España
Size (cm)
3 x 3
Acquired
1989
Ex-collection
Ángel García
Etymology
Named after the German Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, in recognition of his interest in mineralogy.
Quality
Notable
Value trend
Al alza

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