Calcite

$1,100.00

$40.00 shipping
Seller offers an extended return window of up to 30 days
Ships from USA

Not only an extremely pretty and well-balanced miniature sized specimen, this is Cobaltoan Calcite, a rare pink variety of Calcite that is only known from a small number of places worldwide, and even fewer in good crystals. Of those countries where excellent Cobaltoan Calcite is found both are in Africa: Morocco and DR Congo. The supply from Morocco appears to have ceased many years ago and although there is much active mining ongoing in DR Congo the numbers of great Cobaltoan Calcite specimens is like a drip-feed. Of those, Mashamba West mine in the Kolwezi mining district is the most famous locality and continues to reveal occasional treasures like this piece. Like a flower, the radiating scalenohedral crystals present a rather charming soft pink colour and excellent translucency, which adds to its glow. The largest crystal reaches 3 cm in length and all of the crystals have unusual growth features (possibly epitaxial overgrowth) along their faces, making for a fascinating appearance. Furthermore, their pink colour is very slightly zoned, adding to its alluring appearance. There is slight chipping to several of the crystal tips, but this does not distract from the overall excellent aesthetics. With good lighting this marvelous specimen really excels.