Calcite (Manganese-bearing)

Item Description

Here we have an impressive, large, gorgeous, display quality specimen of the famous pink (manganese-bearing) Calcites from the 2nd Sovetskii Mine in Dalnegorsk, Russia. These piece are some of the finest examples of manganese-bearing Calcite from any locality in the last 40 years. The piece features robust, very well-formed, large, sharp, compressed trigonal crystals stacked into a "pagoda"-like formation to create this very attractive display specimen. The color is a soft pink hue with a vitreous luster and slight translucency when backlit. The largest Calcite measures 8.1 cm across. Black Sphalerite and silvery Galena can be seen on the back of the piece. These are fantastic Calcites with their wonderful crystal form and displayability. They are distinctly different from similar pieces from either China or South Africa, and crystals of this size are certainly hard to find. For an added bonus, the piece shows wonderful orange fluorescence under UV light. If you have always wanted one of these Calcites, pick this one up now because they are not nearly as common as they once were, and for the overall quality, this is a great cabinet sized display piece of these very remarkable specimens. Valued $2,500.
From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known dealer and collector from Colorado, who was the namesake for the rare phosphate Kosnarite. Rich assembled a fine comprehensive suite of Russian minerals during the 1990s.