LARGE Calcite crystal with Celadonite (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

The world-class Amethyst deposits in the southern Brazilian jungle have been dubbed by some the "Amethyst Capital of the World". These extensive volcanic deposits have yielded countless specimens of fine quality Amethyst crystals which fill the vugs of geodes, which when sawed open will create the famous Amethyst "cathedrals", that we've seen on the market for many years. Very few other minerals are found in this environment, but you will occasionally see fine quality crystallized Calcite from this area. This piece is one of the largest (and heaviest) Calcite crystals that I've ever had to offer from any locality in Rio Grande do Sul. The monstrous "dogtooth"-shaped scalenohedron weighs a whopping 1,140 grams (approx. 2.5 pounds). A small secondary Calcite can be seen flaring off the side, giving the piece three-dimensional form. There is no matrix, but the back of the piece has an attached layer of dark blue-green Celadonite (erroneously labeled Caledonite), a Mica species that is often seen in Quartz-rich basalt deposits like this. The label states that the specimen fluoresces an orange hue under medium wave ultraviolet light. No major damage, only a few minor imperfections that I can see up close. A truly impressive example of this famous material. Valued at $2,500 in the inventory. From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered.