Calcite on Calcite, with Hematite ex Halpern Collection

Item Description

These highly distinctive Calcites were found over 50 years ago in the famous Santa Eulalia mining district of Mexico in the 1950s or 1960s. The piece, overall, is multi-generational Calcite, but the sharp delineation between growth events makes these dogtooth Calcites really stand out, literally. The first generation of Calcite has a bright orange fluorescence, and these crystals were coated by a thin veneer of red Hematite, which creates the dramatic phantoms in the cores. The next generation of Calcite gemmy and broth-colored, and adds the finishing touch to creating sharp crystals with a bright, silky luster. This particular look was common only in this limited discovery, but now you have to be lucky to find one coming out of an old collection - especially in this size and condition! This piece was Halpern #754, acquired by him in the late 1960s from the old Columbine Mineral Shop run by Ben Keuhling that started so man y colelctors of the era. Holding it is like having an aesthetic and jagged mountain range in the palm of your hand. There are numerous references to Jack and his collection in print, but perhaps a good tour of the collection and its history will help give perspective on just how good, and important, this collection is: https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection