Updated 6d ago

Calcite (fluorescent) on basalt

Irai is known for its superb and very distinctive Calcite specimens, often found associated with amethyst in the basalt cavities there. Often scalenohedral and translucent, this small-cabinet piece is totally different than the usual and takes these Calcites to an entirely different level. Not only are the Calcites gemmy and lustrous, their habit is so unusual for the locality, and Calcites in general. In cross-section, they range from highly modified hexagonal to virtually triangular, each more modified than the next. It's really amazing as you compare one to the other. They have flat terminations, and the longest crystal is 4 cm. Not to be outdone, the smaller Calcites are, indeed, scalenodrons, and some are doubly terminated. The Calcites have red fluorescence, and the aesthetics are especially good with the Calcites beautifully set against the dark matrix.