3.5" Pagoda Style Calcite Crystals on Calcite - Fluorescent!

This is a beautiful cluster of hematite included, "pagoda style" calcite crystals that formed after a large, hematite encrusted dogtooth (scalenohedral) calcite crystal. This specimen was collected from the Fengjiashan Mine in Hubei, China. Under short-wave ultraviolet, the colorless portions of the calcite react by fluorescing orange in color.

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 & Hematite
LOCATION
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye County, Huangshi, Hubei, China
SIZE
3.5 x 3.1"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#215901