Calcite (twin) (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

An impressive, big display specimen from a rare Austrian Alpine locality featuring a satiny, white/colorless, scalenohedral twin of Calcite measuring 8.3 cm, sitting on host rock matrix. The Calcite is not fully crystallized on the ends, so it's not completely pristine, but it sits so aesthetically on the specimen, and the size and definition of the twin are noteworthy, especially for the locality! You don't think of the Alps as being a good source of fine Calcites like this, and I have to say I don't know of another for comparison. It's the kind of piece you'd only find in such a deep and comprehensive worldwide (specifically European) collection like Kurt's. If you're a Calcite collector, this is something that I'll bet you don't have in your collection.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#121 O), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection through our various platforms.