CALCITE
Specimen cal-82
$ 350.00Dims: 8.3" x 6.4" x 5.2" (21.1 x 16.3 x 13.2 cm)
Wt: 12.7 lbs. (5.8 kg)
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
A very large, cabinet-sized specimen, this Calcite piece is in the form that I like to call a "parallel association", wherein a group of crystals are intergrown parallel to each other, so that it one cannot call it a single crystal, nor could one call it a cluster, accurately. The association is made up of what appears to be three main crystals that have many smaller terminaions at their ends. Nonetheless, their double-terminated scalenohedral crystal form is still evident, and their form is excellent. There is substantial damage in the form of cleavage planes on three areas of the specimen, including one of the main terminations of the second-largest crystal. All of the Calcites have a beautiful golden coloration that intensifies towards their termination tips. All of the crystals are also translucent and quite cloudy at the twinning plane, and increase in clarity towards the terminations, though they never become totally clear. Their faces are clean and smooth and their terminations are well-defined, accenting the crystals' vitreous-to-pearly luster. The association is partially held together by a small amount of a gray dolomitic limestone host rock. On this host rock are several deep-brown sphalerite crystals that have a complex cube-based form and a wonderful adamantine luster. Their color is so deep that they are only dimly translucent at best, and with their luster, appear opaque. They tend to show considerable damage, as most of the visible crystals are quite exposed.