Manganese-bearing Calcite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
Large Cabinet, 15.0 x 13.6 x 11.3 cm
Start Time: 01/30/2025 7:00:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 02/08/2025 6:30:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed
Winning Bid: $897

Item Description

This is one of the few really large and also balanced pink calcites of this particular shape and style that were recovered in good condition from the classic "Cotton Candy calcite" finds of around 2011, that we are aware of. Most were smaller, or too big (some reached watermelon size!); or just too damaged. This one is collector sized, for most of us. This is so different from any other calcite style we have seen - an intense pink cluster composed of intergrown "wheat sheaves" of elongated manganoan calcite crystals, with an intense pink coloration to them (stronger, richer pink color in fluorescent light as opposed to halogen light, under which these photos were shot). Complete all around, this is from a series of pockets that produced such pieces in mid-2011. Seems that since then, new pieces of this style are more uncommon although other pink calcites of different shape continue to come out. I believe these will be remembered as a contemporary classic, as well as for their beauty. The pink, manganoan-rich calcite is brightly fluorescent orange-red under UV light. This specimen is nearly pristine, with just a few very trivial bruises (which frankly can be treated to remove with acid cleaning, but we like calcites natural). It is over 2 kilos in mass and displays well on its custom lucite base.

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Bidding History

Bid Amount Bid Time
$897 02/08/2025 6:20:32 pm (CST)
$872 02/08/2025 6:20:31 pm (CST)
$847 02/08/2025 6:20:24 pm (CST)
$822 02/08/2025 6:20:24 pm (CST)
$740 02/06/2025 1:54:07 pm (CST)
$715 02/06/2025 1:54:07 pm (CST)
$580 02/06/2025 10:42:48 am (CST)
$555 02/06/2025 10:42:48 am (CST)
$454 02/05/2025 8:28:24 pm (CST)
$444 02/05/2025 8:28:24 pm (CST)
$320 02/04/2025 11:23:41 am (CST)
$310 02/04/2025 11:23:41 am (CST)
$136 02/02/2025 7:49:13 am (CST)
$126 02/02/2025 7:49:12 am (CST)
$85 01/31/2025 11:52:56 am (CST)
$75 01/31/2025 11:52:55 am (CST)
$40 01/31/2025 7:57:02 am (CST)
$35 01/31/2025 7:57:02 am (CST)
$10 01/30/2025 10:32:01 pm (CST)