Calcite (Cobalt-bearing)

Item Description

A fine quality and richly colored example of the classic cobalt-bearing Calcite specimens from Bou Azzer in Morocco. These are hands down some of the finest examples of this colorful variety of Calcite in the world. This piece is filled with excellent, well-formed, resinous/vitreous trigonal crystals measuring up to 8 mm, sitting on matrix. The central crystals are in great condition, and the only roughness is around the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. The crystals have an almost electric color, with a liveliness that is rarely seen in Calcite, as the intense fuchsia-pink hue and wonderful internal gemminess/translucency just glows in good lighting. A very attractive example of these renowned Calcites. I would value this one in the $2,500 range for its superior quality and top color. From the collection of Vasco Trancoso, a medical doctor and prominent mineral collector from near Lisbon, Portugal (https://www.mindat.org/user-11954.html). He assembled his mineral collection over the course of 60 years, and built a fine worldwide display collection that we recently purchased. This piece is pictured on mindat.org at https://www.mindat.org/photo-191936.html