I’ve added a new lot of specimens from finds in 2013-14 – I’ve been assembling this group of top-calibre pieces for a few years, and they are now online in the new Egypt Update (click here). These are excellent goethite pseudomorphs after marcasite from the White Desert, north of Farafra Oasis.

This locality has been known for a number of years and pseudomorph specimens have come out once in a while. The pseudomorphs occur within the Cretaceous Khoman Chalk, from which the White Desert derives its name. Most crystals have typically been fairly indistinct, and to date sharp specimens have been relatively uncommon. These specimens, collected in 2013 and 2014, are remarkable for their relatively sharp marcasite crystal forms in aesthetic crystal clusters.

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.7 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.4 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 5.0 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 4.0 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.4 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.2 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3,2cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.6 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 4.0 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 4.1 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.9 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.4 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.6 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 2.8 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.0 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.1 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.8 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.2 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 4.0 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite and pyrite,
White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 6.6 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after pyrite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.1 cm

Goethite pseudomorph after marcasite, White Desert, North of Farafra Oasis, Egypt – 3.3 cm