Calcite

Item Description

Here we have an attractive display specimen of Calcite from the historic Chimney Rock Quarry in New Jersey. This locality dates back to the early 1900s, and unlike most of the other basalt quarries in northern New Jersey, Chimney Rock is best-known as being a large copper producer. In addition, there are the customary zeolites and associated minerals, including some wonderful Calcites. This piece features a full coverage of translucent, pastel golden colored rhombs measuring up to 1.6 cm, some of which are twinned sitting on matrix. Most of the crystals are undamaged, though there are few contacted areas, so it's not completely pristine. The specimen is from the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral collector and dealer from Colorado who was born in New Jersey and spent his adolescence collecting minerals the various trap rock quarries in the state. This piece also was in the collection of Edwin Skidmore.