Hematite on Siderite

📍Holenbrunn, Wunsiedel, Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Dimensions: 26 / 17 / 16 mm
Ex. Kay Robertson (collected 1968), Dr. Heinz Ziehr

This small specimen comes from Holenbrunn in Upper Franconia, Bavaria. A lustrous hematite crystal sits neatly atop a blocky siderite matrix, forming a clean and elegant composition. The warm brown tone of the siderite contrasts beautifully with the metallic sheen of the hematite. Although Holenbrunn is a small village with a history of quarrying and carbonate mineral occurrences, well-composed and high-quality specimens like this are quite rare.

Its provenance is equally remarkable. As early as 1968, this specimen was acquired by the renowned American collector Kay Robertson, at a time when she was still building the world-famous collection that later earned her recognition throughout the mineral community. Kay was known for her keen eye for both aesthetic and quality, amassing thousands of fine specimens over the decades—those interested can refer to this year’s Mineralogical Record supplement for more about her legacy.

Before entering Kay’s collection, the specimen belonged to Dr. Heinz Ziehr, a respected German mineralogist deeply versed in the mineral localities and mining history of Bavaria. He was highly regarded among European collectors and had long been friends with Kay Robertson.