Folkestone
51.0986° N, 1.2383° E · ± 1 km
Marcasite from Kent, United Kingdom, with photos of specimens from this locality.
Minerals found here
Marcasite at Folkestone
Spectacular centimetric marcasite crystals in English chalk
- Formula
- FeS₂
- Morphology
- Sharp tabular and twinned crystals; nodules
- Typical size
- Individual crystals and groups of several centimetres
- Color / luster
- Pale bronze to tin-white metallic
- Associated minerals
- Chalkpyrite
- Surface features
- Curved, striated tabular faces
- Twins
- Common repeated {101} twins
- Availability
- Scarce
- History
- Classic locality in the chalk between Folkestone and Dover
Geology of the locality
- Setting
- Sedimentary marcasite in chalk between Folkestone and Dover
- Type
- Sedimentary
- Host rock
- Chalk
- Region
- Kent
- Country
- United Kingdom
Classic English Channel chalk locality for centimetric marcasite crystals and nodules. Chalk cliff section at Folkestone Warren; position converted from the OS grid reference TR 267 383.
Sources
- SRC-013 · Book
Handbook of Mineralogy - MarcasiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · Mineralogical Society of America - SRC-017 · Website
Marcasite encyclopediaLe Comptoir Geologique · Le Comptoir Geologique - SRC-025 · Website
Folkestone Warren - Wikipedia (OS grid ref TR 267 383)Wikipedia contributors · 2026 · Wikipedia
Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.