Epidote (classic material) (ex Dave Bergman Collection)

Item Description

Colorado is famous for minerals like Rhodochrosite, Amazonite, Aquamarine and Gold, but not too many people are familiar with the Epidotes from the Calumet Mine, which lies about 10 miles north of Salida. Outside of the locals in Colorado, most people probably haven't seen much from this locality, at least not in the last 40 years or so. An mentioned, this locality is best known for producing some of the best crystals of Epidote from any locality in the continental United States, which are often found in associated with fine quality Quartz crystals. This piece features a predominant, excellent, sharp, lustrous dark green colored crystal with smaller accessory crystals of Epidote and minor Quartz crystals. The largest Epidote crystal measures 1.3 cm long, and is beautifully crystallized. We see less and less of this material on the market every year, and specimens like this are virtually impossible to find now. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".