Calcite (classic material)

Item Description

The Sweetwater Mine is the one the premier Tri-state localities, and has produced what are certainly among the top Calcites from the entire district. To be fair this mine is known for only few species (mostly sulfides), but the iconic Calcite specimens are a favorite among collectors. Here we have a gorgeous and eye-catching display piece from this famous mine featuring a handful classic golden scalenohedral Calcites with sharp faces and great form, with good internal gemminess measuring up to 3.7 cm, associated with metallic golden Chalcopyrite and rhombic off-white Dolomite on matrix. A few of the Calcites are doubly-terminated for a nice touch. A couple of the secondary Calcite crystals are cleaved, but the major crystals are in excellent condition. These pieces are not nearly as common on the market as they were years ago, so don't miss out.
From the collection of Gary and Terry Butts of Livermore, Colorado. This husband and wife collecting duo were childhood sweethearts, and have been together since they began dating as teenagers growing up in East Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. Both of them had an early interest in the hobby thanks to the fact that Terry's parents had a keen interest in lapidary, which sparked an interest in rocks for both of them. Gary and Terry were featured in an article in the Des Moines Register on Feb 4, 1962 (see photo in this listing) highlighting their interest and prowess in the hobby as youngsters. Gary traveled to various localities around the US as a teenager with his father (who worked in the tin industry), to personally collect specimens. He then attended the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and graduated in 1967 with a degree in extractive metallurgical engineering. We went to work for Duval Corp at the Esperanza Mine south of Tucson, Arizona and then work for Cyprus Mines, Hazen Research, Pincock, Allen & Holt and the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. His final job was in the mineral and environmental division of Intertek Testing Services of London, which owned the Canadian mineral testing company, Bonder Clegg. Gary's various jobs allowed him to travel the world and build his collection by buying a lot of specimens in person when they were coming out of the ground. Additionally, Terry's uncle was a miner in Creede, Colorado and later owned a rock shop which supplied Gary with specimens from the area. The specimens in this auction represent what Gary and Terry considered the "cream of the crop" of their collection.