Calcite with iron oxide inclusions (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

Tsumeb is one of the premier mineral localities in history, as it produced a large amount of high quality minerals ranging from very common species, to some of the rarest minerals on earth. Even species as common as Calcite are often seen in superb examples from Tsumeb. This large cabinet display specimen is a classic and superb quality semi-"rose"-shaped group composed of large, sharp, compressed rhombohedra of Calcite with eye-catching "stepped" faces along the edges, almost a "saw-toothed" appearance if you will. These flattened rhombs reach up to 7.1 cm across. The crystals are rather gemmy and would be essentially white/colorless were it not for some attractive and desirable inclusions of iron oxide (presumably Hematite) that create glowing red highlights scattered throughout the specimen. This is a high-quality Tsumeb calcite of a very rare style and color. This piece was mined in the early 1970s, and are seldom seen in cabinet size, let alone LARGE cabinet size like this one. Taking the size into account, the condition is nearly pristine on the display side, as I can only find a few minor rough spots, though it's obviously contacted on the back where it was removed from the pocket wall. Tsumeb minerals are some of the most sought after specimens on the market, and the prices seem to be increasing daily for them, so to have an opportunity to pick up a piece of this significance and caliber for the starting price is an amazing bargain. We had this one priced in the inventory at $7,500. From the collection of Richard A. Kosnar, well-known collector and dealer from Colorado, and the namesake for the phosphate species, Kosnarite. Rich was business partners with Charlie Key during the 1970s, and they teamed up to bring import some of the finest minerals from Tsumeb to the United States. This piece was one of the first specimens that Kosnar kept for his private collection when the first pallet of minerals arrived from Tsumeb to his home in Colorado.