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The Origin: Forged in Precambrian Fire
Over a billion years ago, the St. Francois Mountains of Missouri were a volatile, apocalyptic landscape of roaring volcanoes and flowing magma. Deep within the earth\'s crust, superheated hydrothermal fluids, rich with heavy iron, violently forced their way through fractures in the volcanic rhyolite rock. As this fiery liquid cooled in the dark depths of Shepherd Mountain, it crystallized into the breathtaking specimen you see here: a stunning, heavy amalgamation of bladed Specular Hematite (Specularite) and highly magnetic Magnetite. Weighing in at a massive 876 grams, the metallic, needle-like crystal structures catch the light like a bed of ancient, dark silver blades.
The History: Raining Hell on Fort Davidson
The incredible geology of this piece is rivaled only by the blood and gunpowder of its history. Mined from the legendary Shepherd Mountain, this ore is a relic of a bygone era. The mining operations here ground to a sudden halt with the bloody onset of the American Civil War, never to reopen.
In September 1864, the mountain was transformed from an abandoned mine into a deadly tactical vantage point. Confederate Major General Sterling Price and his troops descended upon Pilot Knob. Utilizing the very same abandoned mining tracks that once hauled this heavy iron ore down the steep slopes, the Confederates dragged their heavy artillery up the mountain. From the heights of Shepherd Mountain, they unleashed a fiery hell, raining cannon fire down upon the heavily outnumbered Union troops defending the hexagonal earthworks of Fort Davidson below.
This piece is not just a geological marvel; it is a silent witness to one of the most dramatic conflicts of the Civil War.
Condition & Rarity
- Weight: 876 grams (1.93 lbs)
- Dimensions: 3.25\" x 3.25\" x 2.5\"
- Properties: Highly magnetic (due to magnetite) with gorgeous, sparkling specularite crystal blades.
- Please Note: Pieces of this caliber from the closed Shepherd Mountain mines are exceptionally rare. What is currently in circulation is likely all there will ever be. A true centerpiece for both mineral hounds and American history buffs!
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