3.4" Skeletal Calcite Crystal Cluster - Wenshan Mine, China

This is an interesting aggregation of colorless, skeletal-hollow, scalenohedral calcite crystals. It is part of a new find at the Wenshan zinc mines in the Yunnan Province of China.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.

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.
SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Calcite
LOCATION
Wenshan Zinc Mine, Wenshan City, Yunnan, China
SIZE
Entire Specimen: 3.4 x 2.6"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#223557