Quartz, SiO2. Aberdaunant mine, Nr. Llanidloes, Central Wales Orefield. This specimen is included in my collection because it is representative of many similar pieces found on the spoil heaps. There are some well formed crystals, but most of the quartz is irregular and mis-shapen. There is some iron staining on most of the specimen.
Siderite, Iron carbonate, FeCO3. Aberdaunant mine, Nr. Llanidloes, Central Wales Orefield. This specimen is brecciated material, composed of calcite, host rock, and siderite, more properly known as iron-carbonate. The bulk of the specimen is siderite, with just enough of it's slightly curved rhombohedral nature to allow identification. An old fashioned name for siderite is chalybite, and there are records of chalybeate springs in central wales.
Siderite, Iron carbonate, FeCO3. Van mine, Nr. Llanidloes, Central Wales Orefield. This brecciated specimen is a mix of host rock, quartz, and siderite. The quartz, which is a gangue mineral at this mine is of a "sugary" nature, with no crystals to be seen. The siderite is not so solid as seen at other mines locally, but seems to be granular in nature, with just enough crystals to identify the mineral.
Siderite, Iron carbonate, FeCO3. Cafartha mine, Nr Staylittle, Central Wales Orefield. This brecciated material is mostly siderite with small pieces of host rock, and a small amount of calcite. The siderite, which is an iron-carbonate is very pale brown in colour, with a slight curvature on exposed surfaces. There are no actual crystals on any of the specimens.
Quartz, SiO2. Cafartha mine, Nr. Staylittle, Central Wales Orefield. This specimen, though small, is among my favourites. It was obtained very carefully from the roof of an adit which was on the point of collapse, and in fact did collapse a few days later. The crystals are pin sharp and well formed, with a light coating of iron staining. The underside is very reddish brown and is obviously iron rich.