Willemite (var. Troostite) with Calcite - old classic ex Kidwell

Item Description

A classic representative specimen from the older sections of this historic mine, showing two fat, robust crystals of Willemite, the variety formerly called Troostite, in a matrix of white Calcite. The big Willemite crystals are 3.5 and 3.4 cm in maximum dimension, respectively, and are partially frozen in the granular Calcite matrix, but well exposed to show off their slightly rounded, trigonal crystal form. Their color is a brown-red and they fluoresce an intense green color as one would expect for the species. The granular Calcite, that shows numerous cleavage traces, exhibits a faint pink hue and fluoresces red in short wave UV light. This piece stands well for display. From the diverse and historic collection of one of the great field collectors and mineralogists of mid-1900s Texas, Albert Kidwell of Houston (1919-2008), after whom the mineral Kidwellite is named.