2.3" Gemmy, Colorless Calcite Crystal Cluster - Red Dome Mine

This is a gemmy, colorless calcite crystal cluster that was collected from the Red Dome Mine in Australia. Due to the closure of this mine, it can be difficult to come across these stunning calcite crystals. While many of these calcites are often littered with cuprite inclusions, this specimen features excellent clarity throughout, with only small spots of cuprite impurities towards what could be considered the base. Small fractures within the calcite result in a colorful iridescent display in spots.

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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Calcite
LOCATION
Red Dome Mine, Mungana, Queensland, Australia
SIZE
Cluster: 2.3 x 2"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#204714