Byssolitic Calcite (RARE old PA combo!) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

VERY RARE, perhaps unique old byssolitic calcite from the historic iron mines at French Creek. The sculptural, moderately lustrous, terminated 360-degree scalenohedron is totally saturated with green Amphibole Supergroup variety Byssolite. The broken end on one side shows the classic, glassy calcite cleavage and translucence. This is not quartz. The famous old iron mines operated intermittently from 1717 to 1928! Ex Kay Robertson Collection with no label or number. They were lost during the move. Kay acquired this from the Shale's in the 1950s or 60s, as the piece is mounted on a typical for the time period sloped styrofoam base. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). A remarkable and RARE old French Creek calcite with byssolite! Value?? A MUST for the locality or species collector!