Calcite (old classic) ex British Museum Coll.

Item Description

An outstanding and rich large calcite plate from this famous old Cumbria iron mine, that operated from 1874 to 1914. The Pallaflat Mine was renowned for exceptional calcite specimens and this impressive piece certainly qualifies. Gem, water-clear colorless, modified nailhead prisms, to about 2.5 cm, are dramatically festooned on the banded hematite matrix plate. I particularly like the way the large crystals are set along the skyline of the back of the piece. All of the multitude of crystals in the interior are pristine. Complete all-around and essentially pristine in the display view with only a trival bit of edge wear on the right side. You don't see the broken crystal along the back edge. The classic, very rich and showy large piece has a super provenance. Formerly in the Dr. C.O. Trechmann Collection and donated to the British Museum with a 1926 date on their label. Ex Dr. Franesco Bedogne Collection # 324. Dr. Bedogne, 1942-2012, was a well-known Italian mineralogist, prolific author, field collector and collector. Read his biography in the Mineralogical Record Biographical Archive: http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=118. Valued at $2250-2500 for quality, size and richness.