Schorlomite (Massive)
Magnet Cove, Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA
Dimensions: 8.5 × 4.0 × 3.2 cm
Provenance: Original collection label, catalog no. 543A, identifying the specimen as massive schorlomite from Magnet Cove, Arkansas. Magnet Cove is the type locality for schorlomite, first described in 1846.
A substantial specimen of massive schorlomite exhibiting a deep iron-black coloration and a distinctive combination of glossy, reflective surfaces and subdued, earthy textures. Irregular fracture faces reveal a vitreous to submetallic luster, with intricate curved fracture patterns and subtle brownish alteration along portions of the specimen. Its elongated, sculptural form highlights the dense, massive character of the mineral.
Schorlomite is a titanium-rich member of the garnet supergroup, distinguished by its dark coloration and unusual chemical composition. Unlike the more familiar transparent gemstone garnets, schorlomite commonly occurs as opaque black crystals or massive aggregates in alkaline igneous environments.
Magnet Cove, Arkansas, is one of North America's most historically significant alkaline igneous complexes, celebrated for its exceptional diversity of titanium-bearing minerals. The locality is particularly important in the study of titanium-rich garnets, including schorlomite, which was first described from Magnet Cove in the nineteenth century.
