A large specimen of one of those unique-to-Tsumeb combinations that we love, which makes collecting Tsumeb so fun! Sparkly, olive-green Duftite microcrystals are richly and preferentially embedded on, and included in, a sculptural plate of sharp Calcite crystals in this TSUMEB classic combo! Preferential oriented growth is always a fascinating occurrence, and here the Duftite crystals help create a 'hoppered' look to the Calcites by the association, plus this, in turn, really accentuates the sharp, white edges of these calcite rhombohedra which range up to 1.7 cm. An added bonus is the strong, reddish-orange fluorescence of the Calcite. This excellent combination is classic and rich, as well as significant in size, for the famed and now closed Tsumeb Mine. Jack bought it from the legendary dealer Prosper Williams, who specialized in Tsumeb. It is big, at just over 520 grams - and in what I would say is exceptional condition for a calcite from the 1960s or 1970s. Featured in the book Addicted to Beauty: The Legacy of Jack Halpern (Mineralogical Record, March 2025) on page 220, fig. 234. Comes with a custom lucite base.
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