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Sharply formed, intergrown crystals of lustrous and translucent, rhombs of calcite, to 2.2 cm across are richly colored blue by fibrous inclusions of aurichalcite. The color, and stark contrast against the ocherous limonite is dramatic. One of the best plates in terms of calcite quality and lustre!
Emplaced on a limonite matrix are spherules of pastel blue aurichalcite, to .7 cm across. Aesthetically perched on the aurichalcite, are bladed, fan -like, crystals of glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite , to nearly 3 cm across. Absolutely striking! This was an unusual habit in the pocket, and I had only a few good pieces.
A VERY RICH, intensely colored cluster of equant, lustrous and translucent calcite rhombs, to 1.8 cm, is emplaced on ocherous limonite. The crystals, are, in turn, colored a rich blue by fibrous inclusions of aurichalcite. This is one of the richest overall paltes of solid colored crystals from the find. When closely examining the calcite, it is possible to see the fibrous aurichalcite crystals preserved inside, thus showing that this is intergrowth, as much or more so than simple inclusions. Some crystals of calcite may be more aurichalcite than calcite now! The color is , truly, mesmerizing! Because they are also lustrous, this is hard to photograph and I assure you the color and lustre both are better in person because we had the camera compromise to try to get each in some degree.
This matrix specimen contains the largest rhombs of equant, lustrous and translucent calcite, in this lot. They reach 3.2 cm on edge and 4 cm across! The large crystal actually exhibits stepped growth. Differential inclusions of fibrous, aurichalcite have given the crystals a two-tone, blue coloration. Simply outstanding geometry and the shocking fake-blue color inside otherwise colorless calcite make this a good specimen, borderline great except for jhust a small bit of peripheral edge wear. Few calcite rhombohedra of such size were recovered, and this stands out very nicely in the lot as an excellent example of CALCITE from this find, more than most pieces which are simply for color or the lure of the association
A plate of intergrown, lustrous and translucent, calcite rhombs, to 2.0 cm across, is emplaced on an ocherous matrix. The crystals are heavily included by fibrous aurichalcite which has turned them a rich blue color. Only minor peripheral contact can be seen at the edges, which does not affect the overall quality of the specimen. This is one of the richest overall paltes of solid colored crystals from the find. When closely examining the calcite, it is possible to see the fibrous aurichalcite crystals preserved inside, thus showing that this is intergrowth, as much or more so than simple inclusions. Some crystals of calcite may be more aurichalcite than calcite now! The color is , truly, mesmerizing! Because they are also lustrous, this is hard to photograph and I assure you the color and lustre both are better in person because we had the camera compromise to try to get each in some degree.
Perched high on limonite matrix is a plate of intergrown, lustrous and translucent, calcite rhombs, to 1.4 cm across. Differential inclusions of fibrous aurichalcite heve given the crystals a variegated, blue coloration. It has some very minor damage and wear on the edges, mostly to lower crystals, but is quite pretty and appealing overall.
On a sliver of limonite matrix, is a plate of intergrown, lustrous and translucent, calcite rhombs, to 1.5 cm across. These are heavily invested with fibrous aurichalcite, resulting in a rich blue color. There is even a coating over the calcite rhombs of pastel blue, fibrous aurichalcite.. A fine display quality specimen with unusually good lustre and a very even coloration to it, this is a good deal for the price, I felt as I tried to amortise to keep a nice larger piece under $1000
Like an aqua-blue ocean lapping up on an ocherous island beach, lustrous and translucent, rhombs of calcite, to 1.7 cm across have been colored a rich blue color by fibrous inclusions of aurichalcite. This is definitely evocative of a tropic isle and water (says my helpers here!). It is surely one of the most impressive pieces overall for color intenstiy, crystal definition, and overall aesthetics in this size range. When closely examining the calcite, it is possible to see the fibrous aurichalcite crystals preserved inside, thus showing that this is intergrowth, as much or more so than simple inclusions. Some crystals of calcite may be more aurichalcite than calcite now! The color is , truly, mesmerizing! Because they are also lustrous, this is hard to photograph and I assure you the color and lustre both are better in person because we had the camera compromise to try to get each in some degree.
Equant, lustrous and translucent rhombs of calcite, to 1.7 cm across have been differentially included by fibrous aurichalcite, resulting in a two-tone blue appearance. These crystals are perched on fibrous, pastel blue aurichalcite, which, in turn, is emplaced on ocherous limonite matrix. Excellent example of CALCITE from this find, more than most pieces which are simply for color or the lure of the association
This is one of the nicest aurichalcite specimens I have seen from Kelly. It is composed of a series of parallel growth, stalactitic botryoids, to 2.0 cm in length, with luster, and a wonderful rich, blue green color. The characteristic defining the location, is the single, lustrous, translucent, sky blue, rice grain crystal of smithsonite, measuring .6 cm across. Super!
This specimen dates back to Wendell Wilson’s famous find in the early 1970’s. A limestone, probably silicified, acts as the matrix for a druse of quartz and also for a mat of highly lustrous, deep aqua, acicular, aurichalcite. BEAUTIFUL piece! From Les Presmyk. Super color!
ex. David and Emily Stoudt
Sky blue tufts of acicular aurichalcite on limonite are in turn covered by a .2 cm thick, glassy coating of calcite. This has turned the underlying aurichalcite color to a rich sea foam. This is an extremely aesthetic specimen. INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL IN PERSON, like a wave of artificial neon blue color!
ex. Al Ordway
Al Ordway collected this specimen in 1967 according to his card, and it is the ONLY such piece I personally have seen go by. In fact, I was not even familiar with aurichalcite from the locale, though cyanotrichite has come to market on and off over the years. This small mine is a former Copper and Uranium mine worked from 1890-early 1900s. The Last Chance Mine in the Grand Canyon is located below the South rim, and is accessed via the Grandview Trail. The mine itself is located on Horseshoe Mesa. Some collectors, such as Al, snuck back into the old workings over the years but I have never heard of any big finds, and the trek is surely dangerous. This piece, with brilliant blue, relatively robust aurichalcite xls, would be fine for ANY locality, though.
ex. Phil Scalisi
An exceptionally fine, top quality example of a rarity from Kelly: pure aurichalcite in rich velvety, botryoidal crust. This is a beautiful piece, really deep in color and classic for the locale, but rare in specimens of this size and quality. Phil Scalisi collection.
ex. Richard Heck
Aesthetically nestled in a vug of ocherous limonite are rhombohedrons and scalenohedrons of lustrous and translucent calcite (to 1.8 cm in length) that have been totally included by aurichalcite, giving the crystals a spectacular sky blue color. The contrast to the dark matrix is very appealing, and the association was always rare and highly unusual (for this or any other locale). Beautiful!
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