Calcite (fine twinned crystals with iron oxide inclusions) (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

The Calcite twins from the Leiping Mine are some of the most important discoveries of any variety or habit of Calcite in the past 20 years. This attractive miniature sized specimen features a couple of razor-sharp, high quality, lustrous, colorless "X"-twins of Calcite measuring up to 2.3 cm across siting on a bed of iron oxide included "needles" of Calcite on matrix. What I particularly love about this specimen is that the main twin does not show the elongated tapered habit of crystals typically seen, but rather a thicker, more stout habit which sets it apart from many others from this locality. Priced in the inventory at $800. Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.