Unusual and attractive specimen with a look that is very unusual for Colorado! The doubly terminated Calcite (twinned) is nicely perched on contrasting Malachite. With magnification it can be seen that the Malachite is both on and in smaller Calcite crystals and has a silky texture. In very good condition as seen, I have only ever seen one other example from this locale, and this piece is larger and far more well-developed. It seems these were mostly found long ago and a few more collected in 1990. None since and the mine is fully defunct.
Calcite - triangular crystals
stock #4.2-295
Guiyang
Guizhou Province,
China
9.6 x 6.1 x 3.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $140
Spring 23
Stacked and clustered Calcite crystals with triangular cross sections and triangular faces. In excellent condition as seen only some bruising to note on outside edge and backside contact. The color is a salmon pink to orange hue. From a small quarry in Guiyang the specimen has a second generation of tiny Calcite crystals on the lower faces of the main crystals.
Quartz on Calcite on Aurichalcite
stock #17.1-557
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
7.3 x 5.7 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Spring 23
An unusual specimen ex Les Hitchings collection, obtained in 1963 as noted in his ledger; one of his earliest pieces. This is quite different from more recent pieces and has a fine composition overall. The Calcite and Quartz have a light mint-green color caused by the underlying copper minerals. A small area of Aurichalcite is noted on the matrix. The taller fingers or towers grade to a white to pale yellow color at the tips. Overall in excellent condition, the sparkle and luster are excellent. This dates back to the early years of Mexican mineral specimens being exported to the USA.
Glassy transparent crystals of Calcite with well-defined phantoms of red Hematite. A classic from Tsumeb, this is an especially bright and colorful example. The outer edges show the breaks where this was removed from the host rock but the core of the specimen is in very good condition, only minor edge scuffs are seen on close exam. The included Hematite seems to be in two different generations, some darker clouds are a brown-red color while the sharply defined phantoms are more red and form thin lines. A choice example of this from this classic locality. Looks better in person.
Calcite (pineapple type)
stock #15.1-822
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
11 x 5.1 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $780
Post Tucson 2022
A thin shard on matrix hosts a doubly terminated Calcite crystal with the famed "pineapple " habit. From the Shangbao Mine (Hunan, China), these were found some 15 years ago and only rarely seen since. This crystal is large for the style at 5.2 CM tall and is translucent to transparent. No damage or chipping, a very choice piece ex.collection of Doug Ervin, a modern classic and very esthetic.
Calcite - old English
stock #21.1-288
Haile Moor Mine, Haile, Copeland
Cumbria,
England
4.7 x 3.2 3.1 CM (miniature)
price: $390
Late Summer 2021
An esthetic cluster of glassy, translucent reddish- pink color Calcites from Cumbria, England. Old labels from the collection of Marie Osbonlighter and Robert Eaton are included. This Calcite is vividly Fluorescent. Most of the colorful Calcites from this region were found long ago the majority were colorless. The Haile Moor Mine is known to have produced some Calcites with Hematite inclusions that give a reddish color like this. An attractive miniature from most any point of view. Overall in fine condition though there is one cleave on a crystal that is visible at some angles (shown in these photos) but is clearly not distracting or easily noticed.
Calcite (pineapple type) on Fluorite
stock #7.AE-426
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
5 x 3.9 x 3.3 CM (miniature)
price: $240
Early summer 2021
The "pineapple" type Calcite from the Shangbao Mine were found in the 2004-7 era but not seen in more recent mining. These were mostly translucent to transparent and the color looks just like pineapple. This piece is a single doubly terminated crystal on etched Fluorite that is both light purple and blue. In good condition overall, there are some very small contact points and rough spots but no chipping or real damage. This is in remarkable shape for one of these as most have considerable damage. An attractive Shangbao specimen and a very good example of this very cool habit.
Calcite on Hemimorphite
stock #AX-12-178
Santa Eulalia, Aquiles Serdan
Chihuahua,
Mexico
11.6 x 2.3 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1100
Early summer 2021
A most unusual form and combination. This transparent to translucent Calcite crystal is gemmy and twinned. It is perched on a finger-like shaft, covered with hundred of tiny Hemimorphite blades and also small Calcite crystals. The association and form of this structure is very odd; this was found in the 1970's. The Calcite is complete except for a cleave on the back left side that is not seen on display. Due to that cleave this is not a specimen for the ultra perfectionists, but is incredible for the locality and a very choice display piece presenting an exotic form.
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