Calcite on Quartz with Sphalerite
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
8.5 cm tall x 8.5 cm wide
A symmetrical, near flawless crystal of calcite is perched on top of glistening quartz with black sphalerite. The clarity and depth of color of the calcite on such a resplendent matrix makes this specimen rise to the apex of all known calcites. This specimen is an aesthetic tour-de-force, placing it among the great calcites of the world.
The Elmwood Mine is among the world’s exceptional calcite localities. This is a mine that has produced countless calcites, fluorites, sphalerites, and other species of minerals. Stating unequivocally that this piece is among the best out of unimaginable numbers is simply remarkable.
The Elmwood-Gordonsville mines were initially discovered in 1969, then mining began in 1975. The mining operations have opened and closed several times over the past four decades.