5" Hematite Calcite Crystal Cluster - China

This is a plate of red-orange calcite crystals collected from the Daye iron mine in China. The rich, red coloration is caused by inclusions of hematite within the calcite, as well as a coating along the exterior of the calcite cluster. The entire plate is 5x4.1" with the largest crystal measuring 2.56" long. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Calcite, CaCO3, is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, and prisms. Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three directions parallel to the rhombohedron form.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Calcite
LOCATION
Daye Iron Mine, Tieshan Fe-Cu Deposit, Huangshi Prefecture, China.
SIZE
5" long, 4.1 wide", Largest crystal 2.56"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#50150