Cobaltocalcite from DR Congo

Calcite is both one of the most common minerals on the surface of the Earth and one of the most collectible mineral species out there. It can occur in just about any color you can imagine, even this rather unbelievable hot-pink color. The color of this calcite is due to small amounts of cobalt replacing some of the calcium in the calcite’s crystal structure. Although generally associated with blue colors by most people, in nature cobalt most commonly gives a pink or purple color. Cobaltoan calcites like this one are found in mines of the Copper Belt, a series of massive copper/cobalt/uranium deposits situated along the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. Standing 5.7 cm tall, this specimen is special. In most specimens, the calcite crystals are grown together tightly, only separated at the terminations, but here, the crystals are well-separated, giving the specimen both a superior aesthetic appeal and offering more opportunities to enjoy the crystallography.