1.7" Yellow Botryoidal Calcite Cluster - Peru

This is quite an unusual specimen: it is a cluster of pale yellow botryoidal calcite formed over another layer of whitish bladed calcite. The bladed calcite glows a reddish pink under short-wave UV light. Very little information is available about this formation of calcite in Peru, so we do not know where exactly it was sourced. Regardless, this specimen is a worthy collector's item! It has been mounted to an acrylic display base with mineral tack.

About Calcite Crystals

Calcite crystals are a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) known for their diverse shapes, transparency, and vibrant range of colors. They typically form in rhombohedral, scalenohedral, or prismatic shapes, often with well-defined, sharp edges and glossy surfaces. Calcite crystals are often translucent or transparent, sometimes displaying a double refraction effect where objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled. They can appear in various colors—white, clear, yellow, pink, blue, green, and orange—depending on impurities or trace minerals.

A notable characteristic of calcite is its reaction with weak acids like vinegar, which causes it to effervesce, or fizz, as it releases carbon dioxide. This property makes calcite crystals a key tool in geological identification and studies. Calcite forms in many environments, from sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble to hydrothermal veins.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Calcite
LOCATION
Peru
SIZE
1.7 x 1.3"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#287615