Ettringite on Calcite ex Charlie Key collection

Item Description

This unusual piece from the Kalahari Manganese Field is comprised of a subparallel grouping of lustrous, translucent to transparent, tabular Calcite crystals that have a preferential coating on bright yellow, drusy Ettringite. The individual Calcite crystals are tabular in form, 3.5 to 4 cm in maximum dimension and are transparent around their exteriors and turbid at their interiors. Individual crystals are actually comprised of numerous sub-crystals in tight, flattened, parallel growth with the intricate, stepped growth patterns on their faces that flash in unison as the piece is rotated. This piece probably grew near vertical and has a contact at one area on the bottom with the lemon-yellow Ettringite druse growing on only two sides. This is a captivating and attractive piece! Old material from our purchase in the early 2000s of the Charlie Key collection.