Calcite with Hematite phantoms and inclusions

Item Description

Here is an intense yellow calcite specimen that is the product of a small discovery during the COVID years at the Daye Iron Mine complex in Daye, Huangshi area, China. Most hematite inclusions give a red to orange color, but here, for some reason, the result is a strong burnt amber or yellow hue to the calcite, with sharp brick-red-brown phantoms within! So we have an original generation of hematite coated calcite, swallowed up by the later generation of faintly hematite included calcite that gives the yellow color; and envelops the older sharp scalenohedra within. The contrast of both color and crystal shape is amazing! We were fortunate to have active and trustworthy runners on the ground even when we could not return to China at the time, and bought a large portion of the best of this material. Most were collected quickly, and for the local market, and had too much damage to accept. VERY few specimens of this size, have the quality of shape and color....without any significant damage. So this is an exceptional specimen for the find AND a highly unusual calcite by any standard. The name Huangshi, the town and district we know for fine minerals, actually literally means "yellow stone" in Chinese and would have likely been named for the large amounts of iron ore here, which rarely gives red and yellow color to calcites. Red or brown hematite in calcite is common. This, however, is something new. Valued $5000-plus. Found in 2022.