Calcite (gemmy twin) with Mordenite (ex Rich Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

This specimen was collected in the early 1990s and represents a rare combination from India. While Calcite is by no means a rare species, the pieces from Aurangabad are certainly less common on the market, and this one has the distinction of being associated with white Mordenite. I've only seen a handful of pieces with this association from Aurangabad over the years. To add to the allure of the specimen, the Calcite is a rather gemmy twin featuring an unbalanced "butterfly" shape. Each "wing" of the Calcite twin is sharp and well-formed, featuring a soft golden hue. The final touch to the specimen is dozens of tiny spherical "beads" of rich blue Chalcedony that are frozen into the white Mordenite "balls". This combination of colors along with the beautiful form and quality make this much more than an ordinary Calcite. It's a unique specimen with excellent form and quality that separates it from many others you'll find on the market. The piece is in excellent condition overall, though the back of one of the Calcites is cleaved where it detached from the pocket wall. From the worldwide collection of Rich Kosnar, noted mineral dealer and collector, along with being the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite. Rich had an affinity for minerals from basalt trap rock environments, and loved the various zeolites and associated species from India.