4.1" Highly Fluorescent Calcite Crystal Cluster - Wenshan Mine, China

This is an alluring aggregation of colorless calcite crystals on a calcite encrusted matrix. It is part of a new find at the Wenshan zinc mines in the Yunnan Province of China. The base of the specimen has been cut flat for aesthetic presentation.

Under short-wave ultraviolet light, the calcite crystals exhibit a stunning white fluorescence.

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
Wenshan Zinc Mine, Wenshan City, Yunnan, China
SIZE
Entire Specimen: 4.1 x 3.7"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#223559