Calcite on Malachite and Hematite

This Chinese specimen caught my eye in 2021. At first glance, I thought it was from Tsumeb due to its unique characteristics. I haven't seen anything like that from China before but this piece suggests such things are rare but do exist.

Information about this locality is scarce, although it is known for “butterfly-twined” calcite, and some unique smithsonite and mimetite. The petrogenesis likely involves supergene mineralization in the oxidized belt of a polymetallic deposit. Nearby deposits are associated with hypabyssal granite skarn-type W–Mo–Fe polymetallic mineralization, skarn-type Pb–Zn–Cu mineralization, and vein-type mineralization.

While the formation of this piece isn’t surprising, the aesthetic arrangement of the calcite crystals is remarkable. They have formed beautifully alongside both malachite (which is very rare in Leiping) and limonite. The colorless calcite crystals create a stunning contrast with the surrounding minerals.

So far, to my knowledge, it's still the only one I know about from Leiping mine.

4.5cm, Leiping Mine, Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Jingnan (Tom) Zhang Coll, Jeff Scovil Photo