Calcite stalactites (classic Montana locale)

Item Description

Dramatic, variably sized, rust-red, translucent stalactiform calcite fingers fill a striking 270-degree vug from this uncommon Montana locale. The ridge of larger fingers in the center is remarkable, with the largest being about 5.0 cm tall. The interior is pristine and the bit of noted periphery wear is certainly only a modest detraction to this very fine and sculptural large specimen from the locale. They came out in the 1970s. Carter County is in extreme southeastern Montana in the Paleozoic Williston Basin, an area not known for fine mineral specimens. There is a whole zone of this shale with these concretions and they have "stalactites" like this along with barite and other minerals. No caverns though...not a cave formation per se. This is an uncommon and excellent example.