When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
- Locality: Shepard Mountain, Iron County, Missouri (St. Francois Mountains)
- Primary Minerals: Specular Hematite (Specularite), Chalcedony, Magnetite
- Special Properties: Slightly Magnetic
- Weight: 463 Grams (1 lb 0.3 oz)
- Dimensions: 3" x 2.25" x 2.25"
- Condition: Display Finished (Polished front face, cut base, rough natural back)
The "Shepard's Fire" Assemblage
Welcome to KeepsCache. Up for consideration is a brilliant 463-gram display specimen from the historic Shepard Mountain in Iron County, Missouri. This piece showcases the intense, localized iron ore geology of the St. Francois Mountains, featuring a breathtaking structural contrast between heavy metallic ores and vibrant hydrothermal silicates.
The Mineralogy
This specimen provides a fantastic window into a complex brecciated iron deposit:
- The Metallic Web (Specularite): The dark, glittering webbing throughout the face is specular hematite. This high-grade iron oxide forms in tightly packed, metallic flakes that flash brilliantly under the light.
- The Hydrothermal Infill (Chalcedony): Flooding the voids between the heavy iron ores is a dense, microcrystalline chalcedony. The stark white and fiery rusty-red staining provides an incredible visual contrast against the dark specularite.
- The Magnetic Signature: This specimen exhibits a slight, distinct magnetic pull, indicating the presence of intergrown magnetite—a classic geological hallmark of Shepard Mountain's massive iron deposits.
Custom Lapidary Finish
This piece has been purposefully worked to maximize its display potential in a mineral cabinet. It features a precision-cut base, allowing it to stand perfectly upright on its own. The primary display face has been brought to a high lapidary polish to act as a flawless window into the chalcedony and iron webbing, while the back has been left completely rough and natural to preserve the raw, rugged history of the host rock.
This is a premium reference piece for any collector of midwestern mining history, complex iron ores, or high-contrast lapidary displays.
Shepard Mountain MO, Iron County Missouri, specularite hematite, specular iron ore, chalcedony infill, KeepsCache, polished display rock, magnetic hematite, magnetite ore, St. Francois Mountains geology, lapidary polished mineral, midwest rockhound, historic mining artifact.
