Calcite (Manganese-bearing) (great old classic)

Item Description

The Black Bear vein in the famous Idarado Mine in Colorado was the source of some of the richest gold ore anywhere in the state. The Idarado was named from the combination of the Idaho based Sunshine Mining Company and Newmont Mining in Colorado (IDA-ho + coloRADO = IDARADO). This locality for many years was one of the great ore producers in all of the Colorado and the entire United States for that matter. This mine was reopened in the 1940s and was a major source of base metals that were meant to help with the war effort during WWII. Along with the excellent specimens of sulfides and Quartz, the Idarado Mine was the source of some impressive Calcite specimens. Here we have a wonderful near full large cabinet display piece which loaded with beautiful, robust, sharp, well-formed, complex / modified, soft pink colored (manganese-bearing) Calcite crystals measuring up to 2.2 cm across covering the underlying Quartz and host rock matrix. I love the three-dimensional aspect of the specimen, which gives the piece such robust depth and character. VERY little damage, save the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. These specimens are very hard to find on the market today, as the mine has been closed for over 40 years. If you collect Calcite, Colorado minerals or just love big showy large cabinets, don't miss out on this one. Priced in the inventory at $2,000.