Calcite with Siderite, etc.

Item Description

The large and prolific Stari Trg Mine is the central mine at the big Trepča Complex in Kosovo (formerly Yugoslavia). This well-known locality has been producing great quality display specimens for many. Trepča is regarded as one of the great producers of beautiful crystallized sulfides and carbonates in recent years, and this piece is a great example. This specimen features sharp, well-formed, gemmy, nearly colorless, compressed rhombic crystals of Calcite measuring up to 9 mm across, sitting atop pale yellow colored spherical groups of Siderite, associated with metallic golden Chalcopyrite, black Sphalerite and silvery Galena. No major damage on the top/display side of the piece. For reference, the accompanying dealer labeled states that there is Rhodochrosite on the specimen, and there are some areas where the Siderite "balls" have a slight pinkish color (possibly due to manganese content), but I don't see anything that looks like confirmed Rhodochrosite. Keep in mind that Siderite and Rhodochrosite form a series which ranges from iron-dominant to manganese-dominant, so I suppose it's possible that there is some iron-bearing Rhodochrosite that could show up with analysis, but visually it still looks like Siderite. Really eye-catching in person. Classic material from this prolific locale.