Chalcedony on Smoky Quartz “casts” after Laumontite Urals A most unusual Calcite specimen

A most unusual Calcite specimen from the Idarado that clashes with the typical “feathery” Manganoan Calcites that we are used to seeing from this mine

Specimen # HYALMEX41619

Most everything that evades the crusher is usually taken out of Bolivia by a geologist who has an "in" at the mine

Collected by my maternal grandfather

The piece is notably gemmy / transparent and really looks good with a bit of backlighting to see in the insect inclusions

Chalcedony on Smoky Quartz “casts” after Laumontite Urals A most unusual Calcite specimenThis locality in the Cripple Creek District (purportedly in an old mine shaft) produced unique epimorphs or "casts" of Smoky Quartz and Chalcedony replacing Laumontite. The Smoky Quartz has a distinctive muted silvery grey color, with very little luster and a somewhat stalactite esque growth due to the way the Quartz overgrew the preexisting Laumontite. The lack of luster on the Quartz is most likely due to a micro coating of Chalcedony. The biggest