15" Sandwich Calcite Crystal Cluster with Pyrite - Inner Mongolia

Sandwich Calcite Crystal Cluster with Pyrite - Inner Mongolia #181717

This is a large cabinet sized cluster of hexagonal "sandwich" calcite crystals. The tabular crystals have a translucent zone sandwiched between two milky white zones. These large crystals measure up to 3.3" wide and are clustered on a matrix full of sparkling pyrite. It comes from the Huanggang Fe-Sn deposit in Inner Mongolia.

This mineral formation likely occurred within a zone of limestone that underwent some natural shifting and fracturing at some point in time. The sharp edges of the limestone matrix, along with quartz acting as a glue between, is a solid indication of this.

The pictured custom wood display base is included with this gorgeous specimen.

The "Huanggang Mine" is a complex of seven somewhat interconnected mines located near Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, China. Incredible mineral specimens started coming out of this mining complex around 2009. However, the location provided for the specimens was a long ways away from the actual site. This is a practice commonly performed by dealers and miners following a new discovery to try and preserve the mineral site's true location, and/or for political purposes.

As the site's popularity increased, more and more fascinating specimens were popping up on the market. Some of the earlier minerals included world-class ilvaite crystals, pink fluorite octahedrons, hedenbergite-included quartz (many of which were discarded at first), and arsenopyrite. Over the following years, garnets, pink manganoan calcite, gorgeous fluorites, sphalerite, löllingite, borcarite, scheelite, and a variety of other minerals began to surface on the market. To this day, new mineral discoveries are often made in these mines.

A brief description of the mine and minerals from the Huanggang Deposit.

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