2" Hematite "Pagoda Calcite" on Scalenohedral Calcite - Fluorescent!

Hematite Pagoda Calcite on Scalenohedral Calcite - Fluorescent! #185638

This is a fascinating cluster of lustrous "pagoda calcite" (also known as "mushroom calcite" and "poker chip calcite") crystals that formed over a scalenohedral calcite crystal. The pagoda-style calcite crystals contain hematite inclusions which give them their red coloration. This specimen was collected from the Fengjiashan Mine (Daye Copper mine) in the Hubei Province of China and under shortwave UV, they react by fluorescing a vibrant orange color.

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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