Calcite on Fluorite

Unknown Owner

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Crazy color! - That is your first and immediate thought when you see this fabulous, historic calcite specimen from the old Illinois mining district. It is so intense, so amber colored, so lustrous, that at first you do not think of Illinois material. But then, that is why it is so good. These came out of a small pocket area called the Bahama Pod in 1991 and are famous to this day among all other calcite finds in the area. The main crystal is 8 cm, tip to tip, doubly terminated, and without damage. This is a unique specimen with an elongated crystal, perched on a floater mass of fluorite matrix, that is so different than all others. RCL #1432 on the back. As a bonus, it is sharply, distinctly twinned in the middle after the style of Elmwood calcites... again, unusual for this mine. A special piece to accent any collection, not just those who appreciate Illinois material. Ross obtained these directly from miners or himself in most cases, and so this kind of detailed location and date is irreplaceable and important, part of why the collection will always be the most important assembled in the heyday of this district; and it was assembled in the lifetime of the mines that are now closed forever.