Calcite "Sand Spike" (ex Willard Wulff Collection)

Item Description

A really cool oddity of the mineral world are the so-called "sand spikes" of Calcite and sand concretions from Mount Signal, California. These pieces were discovered by H.W. Peirce of Laguna Beach, California and interestingly enough, the "tails" of the specimens were said to have all pointed west upon their extraction. This is a typical specimen of this rare and unusual material with a spherical "bulb" at one end and a tapering "tail" not unlike a tadpole. Hard to find, and strange to be sure. If you collect unusual minerals, California minerals, or simply Calcites, don't miss out on this one, it's the only piece we have to offer of the material. This specimen comes from the collection of Willard W. Wulff (1904-1998) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a prominent figure and collector of Colorado minerals. Wulff was one of the founding members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society in 1936. You can read Willard's bio on the Mineralogical Record website here ( http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=1528 ). The piece comes with a typed label from Wulff on one of his famous 3x5 index cards.