Large San Diego ' cave Calcite' (RARE style) Bob Reynolds Coll.

Item Description

Dramatic and RARE style large 360-degree two-generation aborescent cave calcite from this less well-known San Diego locale. Most of the striking stacked rhombs on the "limbs" on one side are very glassy, lustrous and translucent. Preferential secondary snow-white calcite overgrowth on the other side makes the piece look like a snow-covered tree! Fascinating chemistry here. RARE style calcite as the Hilton Mine was the only U.S.A. location where optical quality calcite was mined during World War II for strategic purposes (gunsights and bombsights) (MINDAT). Most of the calcite was mined between 1942 and 1945. The piece could be from that era or later collecting efforts. Ex Bob Reynolds Collection, a well-known fossil and mineral expert and Curator of the San Bernardino County Museum. He passed away in 2020. Very rare, possibly UNIQUE, probably older large San Diego County cave calcite from the locale. Valued by the former dealer at $600.