Manganoan Calcite (strongly fluorescent)

Item Description

This sensational manganoan calcite specimen looks like a large, very artistic, spiky pastel-pink pineapple! The piece consists of dozens of relatively large (up to 4cm) very complex, translucent, pastel pink manganoan calcite scalenohedrons that transition from a darker pink core to lighter pink exteriors. Individual crystals, although having an overall scalenohedral form are composed of countless flattened, stacked discs. The piece is wider at the bottom and somewhat narrower at the top. Crystals are in excellent condition with only very minor local bruising. The very back is contacted where it grew on a "fin" of host rock and it is complete all around on all sides. A very aesthetic piece that exhibits a vibrant (!!) red-orange fluorescence. Stunning rich pink color in room light, and under fluorescence as well, due to the presence of trace amounts of manganese within - but it is a richer pink, than most of these. Remarkably free of damage except for only a few minor crystals on the periphery, this was purchased in the miner's home in Chenzhou in 2019. It comes from the same mountain on the edge of Chenzhou that has produced different styles of manganoan calcite for the last 20 years, always different every year or two! We have been underground there...it is a maze of 100-year old artisanal tunnels in bad shape, connected to several openings on the mountain and mined using hand tools. A large, beautiful "masterpiece" of contemporary China, valued $5000-plus. The fluorescence is a bonus, as it looks good in both lights.