Calcite on Sphalerite (Cooper coll.)

Item Description

This specimen is a classic of American mineral collecting, one of the old style famously twinned calcites from Elmwood Mine, featuring an unusually vertically displayed twin crystal looking right at you, on a matrix of sphalerite! The twin is 12.5 cm tip to tip, top to bottom. Normally there is a problem with damages on the tips of such twins, but this piece is as close to perfect as you can ask! The bottom is terminated fully and sharply. The top has a slight modification to the termination giving it a bevelled face for an extra reflection edge, and is itself complete. Keep in mind, this is a 5 inch twinned crystal, perfect and doubly-terminated! Normally these are presented to the viewer from a horizontal perch so, again, the display quality of this piece is highly unusual and vertical, which frankly makes for a nicer display in collections with vertical specimens such as gem crystals. It is a better fit in the case, perhaps. The tips are gemmy/transparent and have the most desirable amber color to them, although the middle is a little more white and murky (but still, translucent). Overall, it is elegant and special, and displays well on a custom lucite base. From the private collection of Sam Cooper, donated in support of the Mineralogical Record at Auction. Valued $6000-7500.