Calcite with Smithsonite (unusual material) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Calcite is obviously well documented from Tsumeb, but this particular piece is notably different than any other I've seen from this prolific mine. Tsumeb was filled with small isolated discoveries of unusual examples of well-known species. This piece features highly compressed rhombic crystals of Calcite measuring up to 1.9 cm associated with golden Smithsonite (according to the label). This association is fairly uncommon from Tsumeb, but the habit and coloring of this piece makes it especially unusual and rare. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#996). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).