Calcite with Jamesonite/Boulangerite inclusions

Item Description

Calcite is a notably widespread and diverse mineral which occurs in many different styles / habits / forms, but it's also "inclusion-friendly", meaning that it can host other species or chromophores to create some beautiful specimens. Certainly some of the most distinctive examples of said material are these iconic classics from the Herja Mine in the Carpathian Mountains. This attractive small cabinet comprises lustrous, layered "rosettes" (intergrown flattened rhombohedra) of Calcite with sharp faces which are included by either Boulangerite or Jamesonite. I cannot find any definitive information as to which species is included in the Calcite, and multiple posts mention that it's an either/or situation. Even Jack's label originally stated that the inclusions were Boulangerite, and there's a hand-written note stating that they are in fact Jamesonite according to analysis from Carnegie, but I still don't know for certain if this is a universal truth, or if it only applies to certain specimens. The unique habit of the Calcites is already intriguing, and the Boulangerite/Jamesonite inclusions are the cherry on top. Boulangerite and Jamesonite are fairly rare sulfosalts, so to see so much of then included inside the Calcite crystals is actually quite impressive, as you rarely encounter the species in large quantities from most locales around the world.
From the collection of Jack Halpern No. 2761. 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