Calcite

It really is quite amazing how the colour and habit of Calcite can vary, especially throughout a single mine such as Tsumeb.  However, we all know Tsumeb is exceedingly special and hence its variety of specimen-grade Calcites does appear never-ending.  This cabinet-size specimen is richly covered with magnificent, highly distorted rhombic Calcite crystals of opaque, pure clotted-cream-white which form steep-sided prisms with occasional triangular faces.  These crystals attain 3.3 cm on edge.  Smaller rhombic crystals are sometimes developed along the edges of the larger crystals giving a sawtooth profile.  The large crystals are scattered over a massive Calcite matrix, itself encrusted with micro-Calcite crystals to about 1 mm.  A delightful specimen.