Calcite

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When this style of crystallized Calcite was first encountered in the West Cumbrian iron mines during the 1880s and 1890s they were heralded as some of the finest examples of Calcite found anywhere in the world. This was not because of the size of the crystals, but because of their clarity, and perfection in crystal form. Bigrigg mine was one of the most famous of all, producing specimens that today are still revered for their beauty. Although many specimens were extracted and sold, many, over the past century have succumbed to poor handling and care, and so it is rare to find them in such pristine condition as this. With very many dog-tooth style glassy colourless crystals radiating outwards from a shallow hollow dome of iron oxide-rich matrix this is an absolute classic. Towards one side of the display surface the Calcite crystals are totally clear and transparent but across the rest of the specimen the crystals are tinted very slightly pinkish-red due to hematite inclusions, making for a quite pretty display. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection, no. 388.