Calcite with Hematite Inclusions

Description

A substantial cluster of translucent Calcite crystals with smoky grey to reddish-brown tones and darker internal areas. Broad reflective faces and intergrown crystals create a strong cabinet display, mounted on the included stand.

The display stand is included.

Supplied as Calcite with Hematite inclusions from Daye County. The contrast between the paler crystal edges and darker interiors is particularly attractive when the faces catch the light.

Locality supplied: Daye County, Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China.

The internal detail contributes a second aspect to the specimen’s appearance. Reflections emphasise the outside faces, while light passing into translucent or clearer areas reveals features within the crystal. These are different effects, and appreciating both helps explain why the piece can have visual depth even where its overall outline is relatively simple.

The recorded Hematite adds iron-mineral detail alongside the principal crystals. Its distribution and contrasting colour help distinguish different parts of the specimen. Here, that association is appreciated as part of the piece’s natural character, alongside the crystal form and matrix. The identification follows the recorded listing rather than being inferred from colour alone.

Calcite is calcium carbonate, a mineral with an unusually wide range of crystal forms. It occurs in sedimentary rocks, mineral veins and many other geological settings. Although the composition remains broadly the same, differences in growth conditions can produce dramatically different outlines, from broad faces to slender or densely grouped crystals. This variety is part of its interest for a mineral collection.

Calcite has well-developed cleavage: it can split along particular planes in its crystal structure. Its natural growth faces and cleavage surfaces therefore deserve careful distinction. Transparent, translucent and more opaque examples all occur. The shape, arrangement and surface character of this piece are more informative than colour alone, especially when comparing specimens from different localities.

The recorded origin is Daye County, Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. Within a collection of Calcite specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures 150 × 120 × 90 mm, with a recorded weight of 1.368 kg. Its scale gives the natural architecture room to be appreciated as a whole, while the finer growth provides detail for closer study.

Calcite is relatively soft and has pronounced cleavage, so support the stable part of the specimen when moving it. Avoid pressure on thin plates or projecting points. A secure display helps preserve the delicate edges and the arrangement of growth described for this piece.