Calcite (old classic)

Item Description

A wonderful old-time Calcite specimen from the famous Bigrigg Mine in Cumbria (Cumberland), England. The piece features an attractive, rather gemmy, frosted, colorless, tabular crystal measuring 4.0 cm with an accessory scalenohedral Calcite on a bit of matrix. The top of the main crystal might appear to be damaged, but I can see defined striated crystal faces, so it's not broken. Small imperfections can be seen, so the piece is not completely pristine, but still an excellent overall piece of these classic Calcites, with a rather unusual crystal habit. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974 ( https://www.mindat.org/photo-326405.html ). The piece also comes with a fantastic old label from renowned New York City mineral dealer, George English, immediately increasing the value.