Calcite on QuartzA most unusual Calcite specimen from the Idarado that clashes with the typical feathery Manganoan Calcites that we are used to seeing from this mine. Small groups of what I call popcorn Calcite are overgrowing a group of Milky Quartz crystals. Very different for the Idarado Mine, and certainly worth picking up if you are a collector of San Juan minerals. The Idarado Mine was one of the most productive San Juan localities and actually extended through

The piece is technically a “floater” since I can’t see a point of attachment where it came off matrix

or a small gem crystal collection

Hopeite is truly only known from a few world localities in fine crystallized specimens

Twins of this size

His catalogue number (1887) is still glued to the base of the specimen

sharpness and translucency/gemminess sitting on wonderfully contrasting brownish Limonite with golden metallic underlain Pyrite

Specimen # BROOK31907

During the latter half of 2010

interestingly enough

“floater” bi-color TWIN

showing the same tooth-like habit

This species was sometimes previously referred to as "Wolframite"