ROMANECHITE
Specimen rom-1

Dims: 3.6 x 2.6 x 1.1" (9.1 x 6.6 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 10.8 x oz. (307 g)

Amboy, San Bernardino County, California, U.S.A.

A crust of botryoidal Romanechite coats the igneous base of this specimen. The crust is in very good condition, showing light damage only in a few spots along its edges. Its botryoidal formations are excellent- a small area appears to be coated with a very thin layer of colorless calcite. The Romanechite has the standard black color and a matte luster, though damaged surfaces have a paler, gray color and a nearly metallic luster.

Dims: 2.8 x 1.9 x 1.0" (7.0 x 4.9 x 2.5 cm)

Wt: 3.5 oz. (98 g)

Aouli, Morocco

A crust of botryoidal Romanechite coats the crystalline barite base of this large hand specimen. The crust is generally in very good condition, though there are two areas of obvious damage. Though it shows no actual monoclinic forms, its botryoidal habit is obvious, and it has the black color and dull to submetallic luster that are commmon for the specie. Though the barite base probably has good crystal form, the blades are completely coated with Romanechite, precluding cursory study.

Dims:2.5x2.1x1.1" (6.4x5.3x2.8cm)

Wt: 5.4oz. (154g)

Aouli, Morocco

This specimen consists of a layer of botryoidal to pisolitic romanechite over barite. There is a small amount of host rock visible on the back. The romanechite varies from a submetallic to an earthy luster and is quite unusual in appearance. There is a small amount of abrasion damage to the front of this specimen. This mineral never is found in nature as crystalline material. It is also known as psilomelane.