Calcite (twin) with Hematite inclusions

Item Description

This is a beautiful example of the classic and distinctive Calcites from the Leiping Mine in China, which are some of the most iconic twinned Calcites from any Chinese locality. This full cabinet sized piece features a beautiful, predominant, very sharp, lustrous, translucent, colorless "butterfly"-twinned group of Calcite sitting atop crystals with attractive light reddish-pink Hematite inclusions, which have "needle"-like thin prismatic habits on oxidized matrix. There is one tiny nick on one of the twinned crystals, but otherwise it's in superb shape. If you look closely, you'll see there are not just the two "wings" of the twin, as one of the crystals protrudes down lower, creating a partial "X"-shape. A fine showy near piece of these exemplary, first-rate Calcite twins.
Valued $2,400.
Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/smalestephen/ ) or on Wikipedia.