Manganoan Calcite, Fluorite, Galena, Chalcopyrite & Pyrite

Item Description

A dramatic and exceptionally aesthetic, large combination plate from the famous mines at Dal'negorsk. The crest is sculpturally covered with glassy, translucent, flattened, pastel-pink, manganoan calcite rhombs to 3.3 cm. A cluster of rounded, frosted, stepped-growth, sea-green, fluorite cuboctahedrons is partially covered by calcite rhombs in the upper left corner. The plate is composed mainly of splendent, metallic-gray, galena crystals with striking stepped-growth and there are even some spinel-twins in the lower center. Iridescent, sharp, golden-metallic, chalcopyrite crystals are clearly evident, as are several mounded clusters of sparkly, pyrite microcrystals. And there are patches of worm-like, microcrystalline quartz, mainly on the chalcopyrites. The cleaved back has a lot of rubyjack spalerite. HOT orange and super purple fluorescence. A very fine example of a large world-class sulfide and calcite combination specimen, which Dal'negorsk is renowned for. Nearly pristine, with only a trivial bit of edge wear to a few calcites. Valued at $1250-1500 and worth it. 2037 grams or 4.5 pounds.