Calcite with Hedenbergite inclusions

Item Description

These so-called Poker Chip Calcites came out of Huanggang around 2015-16 and became instant classics of modern Chinese minerals! However, try to find one today on the market. We found this one old survivor of a big lot we bought at the Changsha show in 2016, in a back room. It features sharp crystals to 4 cm that literally look carved, they are so sharp. The cluster is a complete floater, perfect all around and with no point of attachment (they are thought to have formed in loose kaolinite clay-like rock that has since dissolved, leaving these perfect floating clusters to be picked up when the miners found a pocket). This one has particularly fine shape and balance. At the time they came out and were selling at shows, by us and others, this would easily have been valued $1000-1500.