twinned Calcite var. Manganoan (fluorescent)

Item Description

This is an absolute classic from the 1980s-1990s mining era at this famous cluster of Russian mines, a sharply twinned crystal of incredibly glassy, lustrous calcite, absolutely pristine, and with association of sphalerite. It has just a hint of color in daylight, which translates into enough manganese to give it a shocking fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Note the different colors under shortwave and longwave light! This is a true relic of an era past, and the best of these have a luster so fabulous they are not often matched by other calcites. This pristine, 360-degree specimen has been in Fran's collection since at least the early 2000s. 960 grams. Minor sphalerite and quartz decorate the lower portions. Valued $7500 and it comes with a custom lucite base for display.