This is a fine, old-time classic English Calcite in unusually excellent condition, and you can see why these jewels were so valued by the nobility of England and abroad in the 1800s for their textbook perfection and clarity. This excellent, elongate plate is richly covered with glassy, colorless, modified scalenohedral Calcite crystals to 3.3 cm and they are of the highest quality! The water-clear Calcite crystals project at many different angles, providing a dramatic, three-dimensional effect. The crystals are so transparent that the underlying olive green-brown matrix can be seen through the crystals. The random orientation of the Calcites, along with their numerous crystal faces, results in any incident light providing a sparkle to the piece. Calcites on Hematite-Goethite-rich matrix from Egremont, England are highly sought-after, and very difficult to obtain. These date to the mid to late 1800s, generally. Amazingly, this is essentially a pristine specimen. All of the major crystals are undamaged. On the bottom, is Dr. Ed David's number. From Rob: "This was in his first collection (sold off in the mid-1990s) and was then in my own calcite collection from the 90s until now, stashed away. I collected calcites from 1984 until 2002, and this was one of my treasures. It has never been to a lab or had special cleaning to enhance the quality and surface luster - this is as natural as it gets on a beautiful old classic that meets modern aesthetics. It is a special piece for its dimensionality and 3-D display."