Calcite (gemmy crystal) on Sphalerite

Item Description

The esteemed Elmwood Mine for many years was the source of world-class Calcites, regarded by some collectors in the top tiers of the species, as the best crystals are amazingly gemmy, with superb form and color. Oddly, there are only a handful of mineral species found at the mine, but they remain as some the most recognizable crystallized specimens of their respective species in the world. This attractive piece features a very sharp, highly lustrous, very gemmy, rich golden colored scalenohedral crystal group of Calcite measuring 9.6 cm, sitting on dark reddish-brown Sphalerite ("Ruby Jack") matrix. I can see a few tiny nicks, but the Calcite is largely damage-free. These Calcites are some of the most well-known examples of a mineral species that is found in literally thousands of world localities. 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 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".