Calcite (GEM!)

Item Description

A fantastic large miniature / small cabinet sized example of these now very hard to find Calcites from Wuzhou. In the early 2000s there were a lot more of these pieces on the market, and they have since dried up, and are nearly impossible to find. There are hundreds of localities, styles and habits of Calcite from China, but the Wuzhou specimens are instantly recognizable for their elegant prismatic scalenohedral form and basal terminations, but it's the fact that they are some of the finest GEM OPTIC GRADE Calcite crystals from anywhere in the world that really sets them apart. This piece is a superb, well-formed, sharp, lustrous single crystal of this now classic material with absolute WATER CLEAR transparency and chemically pure colorless interior. The prism faces are quite lustrous, while the termination has a gentle matte luster for a interesting contrast. No major damage of note, although the base of the crystal is contacted / cleaved, which is common in the majority of the single crystals from this locality. My favorite aspect of the piece is that it's completely colorless and doesn't have any of the brown inclusions often seen in these crystals. Hard to photograph, better in person. If you collect Calcites, Chinese minerals or GEM crystals, don't pass this one up as you will be hard-pressed to find another like it for such a great bargain. Originally priced in the inventory at $1,800.