Calcite (twin) (rare locality)

Item Description

A very attractive and notably hard to find locality specimen of Calcite from Matehuala in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. I've seen this locality also listed as "La Paz" in some databases. With that said, it's the only Calcite we've had to offer from the area, and it's a gorgeous twin to boot! The piece has a lovely soft golden color, with a satiny translucence internally when backlit, and other than the base where it was removed from the pocket wall, it's in very good condition, with no damage on the top / terminations. If you collect Calcites, Mexican minerals or twins, don't miss out on this excellent example from a rare locale in the Sierra del Fraile (Spanish for "Friar's Range") in Mexico.
This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".