This Specimen has been sold.
1.9" Calcite Encrusted Fibrous Aurichalcite Crystals - Mexico
This colorful specimen contains blue-green, fibrous aurichalcite crystal clusters that are encrusted in a layer of transparent calcite. This beautiful specimen was collected from the Ojuela Mine in Durango, Mexico. These crystals formed from a bright orange limonitic matrix.
Aurichalcite (chemical formula (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6) is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidation zones of copper and zinc ore deposits. It often forms as radiating, fuzzy-looking acicular blue-green crystals and linings along cavity walls.
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.
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.
SPECIES
Aurichalcite & Calcite
LOCATION
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.
SIZE
1.9 x 1.5"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#119194