Calcite with Quartz

A rather gorgeous small cabinet specimen of perfectly developed rose-like clusters of pseudohexagonal, translucent white tabular Calcite crystals almost entirely covering an underlying matrix of crystallised milky Quartz. This is yet another wonderful example of Calcite from the Coronation Lode in Geevor mine at Pendeen, St. Just, Cornwall. Coronation Lode extended out beneath the sea within the bounds of the old Levant mine section of Geevor. The engine houses at Geevor overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the mine workings extend some distance out beneath the seabed. The mine was reopened throughout the 1970s and 80s, eventually closing in May 1991. This specimen is from the Mike Brooke Collection, part of a magnificent Geevor suite built by Mike through close cooperation with the mining team. Glimpses of the terminated Quartz crystals can be seen between the Calcite clusters, with the Quartz faces speckled with sage green spots of Chlorite.