Calcite with Boulangerite inclusions

Item Description

This is a great specimen of these classic and unique Calcites from the Herja Mine in Romania. Calcite is one of the most diverse minerals in the world, exhibiting a wide range of different styles / habits / forms, and yet you won't find anything quite like these distinctive old classics from the Carpathian Mountains. This attractive small cabinet sized piece hosts beautiful layered "rosettes" (intergrown flattened rhombohedra) of Calcite with sharp well-formed, faces forming "rosette"-esque groups which are colored a dark grey hue from inclusions silvery-grey Boulangerite, a rare lead antimony sulfosalt. Minor tan Siderite can be seen scattered on the front of the piece. The attractive "twisted" form of the Calcite crystals is striking, and certainly distinctive for the material. I never tire of seeing these pieces, as they are some of my favorite Calcites from any locality. The unique habit of the Calcites is already intriguing, but the Boulangerite inclusions is just the cherry on top. It's also worth nothing that when you find so much Boulangerite included inside the Calcite crystals, it's impressive, as you rarely encounter the species in large quantities from most locales around the world. I can't find any major damage of note, but the piece does have some slight imperfections on the underside. Priced in the inventory at $1,500. From the collection of the well-known mineral dealer and collector Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007) of Colorado. Rich had a love for European Classics, and built an impressive suite of specimens from all over the continent.