Calcite (old classic) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

The Calcites from Egremont are among the most well-known, beloved and iconic representations of the species from any European locality. These crystals have been pictured and studied for well over 100 years, as mining in the Bigrigg area ceased in 1932. Here we have a fantastic cabinet display specimen of this famous material featuring many sharp, lustrous GEM / gemmy, colorless, prismatic scalenohedral crystals of Calcite intergrown to create a very showy three-dimensional piece. The largest crystal (which is contacted) measures 4 cm long, but the majority of the crystals range between 2.0 to 2.5 cm. A final touch of some gentle iron oxide inclusions creates a pleasing, classic red contrast. Very little damage, only a few broken crystals and a couple trivial imperfections, which really can't be see when the piece is displayed in a case. If you are a Calcite collector or a fan of classic UK minerals, don't miss out on this excellent and eye-catching old-timer from this historic locality. Valued at $1,500. Ex Kay Robertson Collection. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).