2.05" Calcite After Calcite with Pyrite - Kjørholt Mine, Norway

Calcite After Calcite with Pyrite - Kjørholt Mine, Norway #177378

This is a 2.05" long, scalenohedral calcite crystal that is partially engulfed within a hexagonal calcite crystal. Small pyrite crystals formed over the scalenohedral calcite, resulting in a gorgeous phantom that's visible through the clear hexagonal calcite. When shining a light at this specimen, the pyrite exhibits a brilliant sparkle. This specimen was collected from the Kjørholt mine near Porsgrunn, Norway.

This specimen has been mounted to an acrylic display base with mineral tack.

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.

View All Mineral Specimens