Calcite with Marcasite (unusual style)

Item Description

Rare and unusually shaped large calcite from the well-known Joplin Field, Missouri of the of the historic Tri-State District. The striking, sculptural, intergrown, blocky, flattened rhombohedrons are called "stairstep calcite" due to their unique form. The transparent, light gray rhombs have bright satin luster. The rich peppering of tiny included marcasite crystals adds much character. This is a cleavage slab. The Joplin Field is famous for outstanding calcite scalenohedrons, twins, doubly terminated crystals, rhombohedrons and clusters, including very large crystals up to 60 cm. See the 2017 Mineralogical Record Tri-State issue, Vol. 48, No. 2. Ex Bill and Anne Cook Collection, well-known Ohio collectors. Bill was Adjunct Curator of Mineralogy at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for many years, and Anne was inducted into the Micromounters' Hall of Fame in 2019. Rare and excellent large calcite example of this uncommon style included with marcasite.