Calcite with iridescent Pyrite / Chalcopyrite

Item Description

A really eye-catching and truly special big cabinet sized display specimen featuring a coverage of gemmy to translucent compressed Calcite scalenohedra with a soft silvery / smoky hye sitting on matrix. What makes these Calcites unique is that they have a fantastic selective deposition of three pointed stars (sometimes called "trigons" and of course "Mercedes emblems") of sparkling, iridescent (pink, gold, blue, green) Pyrite or Chalcopyrite which runs along the edges of the pyramidal faces of the terminations of nearly every crystal. The largest Calcite measures 1.5 cm across. Nearly every Calcite is undamaged, though not all of them actually have the Pyrite / Chalcopyrite deposition. The only real "damage" is around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. We've only had a few of these, and no specific locality info was given outside of Hubei, China. If you're a fan of Calcites or Chinese minerals, don't miss out on this one as I don't think we have another one to offer in the auctions, and the quality and peculiarity of the piece make it a very desirable and unusual display specimen that would make a wonderful addition to your collection. Valued at $1,400. See the following link for a somewhat similar specimen https://www.mindat.org/photo-843801.html