This is a beautiful 2.70-inch-wide iridescent turgite specimen collected from the area of Cocomorachic, Chihuahua, Mexico. It measures 2.70 x 1.56 inches and is iridescent on one side only.

Weight: 1.41 ounces

About Turgite

Turgite is a mixture of the iron oxide minerals hematite (Fe₂O₃) and goethite (FeOOH). It is not recognized as a distinct mineral species because it lacks a unique chemical formula and crystal structure; instead, it represents a transitional or altered form of these two common iron minerals.

What makes turgite stand out is its intense iridescence. Thin surface films created by oxidation cause light interference, producing vivid flashes of red, purple, blue, green, and gold that shift with viewing angle. Specimens often occur in botryoidal (grape-like) or stalactitic habits inherited from the parent goethite.

Turgite forms through the chemical alteration of goethite under oxidizing conditions, typically as a secondary mineral in iron-rich deposits. The name comes from its original description at the Turjinskii Mine in Russia. Attractive examples are also known from localities in the United States (notably Georgia and Virginia), Mexico, and elsewhere.

Collectors value turgite for its natural metallic rainbow colors and the insight it offers into iron mineral weathering processes.