Cobaltian Calcite

Item Description

Every now and then you see a mineral with such gorgeous color and shape, it transcends classes as thumbnail, miniature, whatever - anybody would want it. This is one of those kinds of specimens. It simply draws the eye. This is an exceptional 2.9 x 2.5 x 1.9 cm specimen consisting of pair of parallel and lustrous and translucent to transparent, vivid-pink-neon scalenohedral crystals on host matrix. Note that each tip has a small cleave at the very front of each, however we all believe these to be old, and existing from the pocket rather than from later damage. The crystals certainly look complete visually, and it is otherwise complete all around. Photo (Scovil): Minerals: The Collectors Newspaper, 2014; 8: 17. Recently published in Mineralogical Record, Refined Elegance: The Small Treasures of Mineralogy, November 2022 (Mark Mauthner photo, also shown here). From: Ken Roberts (Roberts Minerals), with label. Ken wrote: “from my personal collection.” Ken purchased it from Cal Graeber around 2000. Exhibit: Special Exhibit of Connoisseur Thumbnails at the 2013 the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, with label. Exhibit: Special thumbnail exhibit of African Thumbnails held at the 49th Munich Gem and Mineral Show, October 2014. This is quite simply one of the most famous and widely seen specimens from the collection. The color is unreal, in person. Valued $4000-plus.