Calcite

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Classic, instantly recognizable West Cumbrian Calcite. 'Hedgehogs' of diverging gemmy, colourless 'dogs tooth' Calcite crystals growing out from a core of rusty-orange powdery iron oxides was a feature of several of the West Cumbrian iron mines during the latest years of the 19th century, but Bigrigg mine is perhaps the most famous of all. There is no date recorded for when this small cabinet sized specimen was collected, but it is almost certainly over a century in age and yet remains in a terrific condition, with really fine sharply terminated crystals with crystal-clear tips. A few of the Calcite crystals have cleaved ends to them, but they remain extremely glassy and are difficult to spot. The largest crystal reaches 2.4 cm in length but most are between 5 and 17 mm in length. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection no. 365.