Phantom Calcite (classic Texas - fluorescent) Trimingham Coll.

Item Description

Texas is generally considered to be a mineral wasteland, with the exception the mercury deposits at Terlingua, the Llano Uplift and rare minerals from salt dome deposits. This is an impressive and excellent rabbit ears pair of translucent, golden-amber calcite scalenohedrons with well-defined phantoms from the famous mercury mines of Terlingua. The smaller crystal is pristine, with the larger crystal having only a gently cleaved tip and a trivial bit of edge wear. The contacting at the base, where other calcites once lay, is certainly acceptable in the context of the very fine old-time piece. Specimens of this quality and size were never common. The mercury mines operated from 1850 to the 1940s. Moderate ghostly white fluorescence. Ex Bob Trimingham Collection. Ex Colorado School of Mines and Charles L. Turner Collections, according to his label. A must for the calcite, Texas or Terlingua collector.