Calcite (fine GEM twin)

Item Description

There are numerous localities that produce Calcite crystals worldwide, but certain places stand out from others for their quality and beautify. These now classic crystals from the Sokolovskoe Mine in Kazakhstan are some of the most beautiful and fine quality examples of Calcite found in the last 30+ years. This large miniature sized specimen features a gorgeous, vitreous, WATER CLEAR, pale golden color twinned rhombohedral crystal of Calcite sitting with a tiny bit of attached matrix. Great quality, no major damage I can see. The Calcite twin is completely transparent and it is highlighted by beautiful small modifying faces along the edges of the crystals.
This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This mining project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".