Calcite (with iron inclusions)

Item Description

I've seen a few Calcites from the Falkenstein Mine over the years, and they were either white or beige colored, but this piece has the distinction of showing a pleasing bi-colored effect with brick-red iron oxide inclusions, which play beautifully against the white Calcite crystals. The Calcites have formed in beautiful "pagoda"-shaped groups comprising sharp, lustrous, gemmy, compressed trigonal crystals. Some of them have formed what are called "nail head" crystals, with a flat top sitting on a more prismatic previous generation. Very little damage, mostly around the edges. An eye-catching example from a locality that typically has produced less than colorful examples. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#561 D), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.