Calcite with Hemimorphite and Mimetite

Item Description

There are a wide range of styles, habits and colors of Calcite from various mines around Santa Eulalia, but these particular pieces from the Potosí Mine are arguably the most distinctive and desirable for collectors. This piece is a highly attractive and visually striking small cabinet display specimen featuring many notably sharp and well-formed, stark white rhombic crystals of Calcite measuring up to 2.7 cm, which are sitting on separate, free-standing spires of Limonite, partially coated by small, thin, white/colorless prismatic crystals of Hemimorphite along with tiny Mimetite aggregates, creating a dramatic and three-dimensional piece. Very little damage, largely in excellent condition, displayable from either side, and arguably the showiest and most eye-catching example of this particular material that we've had to offer in the auctions. Valued $7,500-$8,500.
From the collection of Jack Halpern No. 1429. Jack was born May 18, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, but has been a long-time resident of San Francisco. He assembled one of the great mineral collections in the world encompassing over 3,200 specimens with a specific emphasis on color, quality, and style/aesthetics, which is evident in every piece. He admired specimens of all sizes from thumbnails to large cabinets and the vast majority of them rank from fine to world-class in their quality.
Above all else, Jack is considered to be the greatest gentleman in the modern era of mineral collecting. He is beloved by all those who have met him, and he truly is one of the most iconic figures in the mineral world. We recently acquired Jack's collection, and the VAST majority of these pieces will be offered here in the auctions, as we feel that everyone deserves and equal opportunity at acquiring these important, well-documented and fine quality pieces for their collections. We are honored to have the opportunity to offer Jack's treasures to everyone on a regular basis in the auctions.
We encourage you to read our blog post at https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection or his profile on the Mineralogical Record website https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/halpernjack/ for more information