Dolomite "cast"

Item Description

A interesting and intriguing specimen of Dolomite from the great Tsumeb Mine. Even common minerals like Dolomite were found in exceptionally good specimens from this locality, as nearly every species found there ranks in the top tier of quality for the species. This specimen is a thin "crust" featuring sharp, well-formed, rhombic crystals of Dolomite, free of matrix. It appears that this is a cast after preexisting Calcite, which was etched away, leaving only the Dolomite behind. The color of the crystals is a soft beige-pink hue (best seen underneath), but there is a coating of dark orange colored iron oxide (possibly Hematite?), creating a beautiful two-tone effect. These specific Dolomites are very hard to find on the market, I've only had a handful of them over the years, and this is a really good example for any fan of Tsumeb, Dolomite or worldwide carbonates.