Calcite (RARE locality specimen) (ex Lee Burnett Collection)

Item Description

A truly impressive and fine quality example of the seldom seen Calcites from Balmat (the label states that it's from the "St. Joseph lead Company {Mine?}). Balmat is best known for its superb cubic Magnetite crystals, but the Calcites are not to be dismissed as they are often quite gemmy and form in good sized crystals. This wonderful cabinet display specimen features several fine quality, sharp, well-formed, GEMMY, colorless modified trigonal crystals measuring up to 5.7 cm long, with essentially no matrix. The crystals are actually nearly colorless internally (best seen with a bit of backlighting), but they have an intriguing almost "smoky" appearance near the surface due to some dark colored inclusions of an unknown mineral (possibly Hematite due to the fact that I can see some dark reddish inclusions as well inside the Calcites). Overall the piece is in very good shape, though there are some rough spots, so it's not 100% pristine. You'd be hard pressed to find another Calcite like this from Balmat on the market in this size range, and if you're a worldwide Calcite collector or if you collect East Coast minerals, this is an excellent piece to pick up for a bargain price. This specimen had a retail price of $1,800 in our inventory. From the collection of Lee B. Burnett of Morrison, Colorado (#LB576)