Description: I'm pleased to offer this specimen of Calcite from the Pint's quarry, Raymond, Black Hawk County, Iowa. The specimen measures 2.98 x 1.83 x 1.45 inches or 7.57 x 4.64 x 3.69cm and is in excellent condition! The backside is sawn but the piece maintains a natural outline. Pint's quarry was one of the premier collecting localities in Iowa for many years before the quarry finally closed in the late 1990s and has subsequently flooded. It is best known for its calcite crystal-lined vugs that oftentimes serve as a base for later crystallizations of fluorite, marcasite and pyrite. It was a favorite collecting haunt and perhaps only the Keokuk area (for geodes) received more collector attention. Today, the Linwood mine is no doubt the premier locality in Iowa and has furnished collectors with incredible baryte and marcasite specimens. The host rock at the Pint's quarry is a largely dolomitized limestone of Middle Devonian age (about 385 million years ago or so). This piece shows a brachiopod shell fragment and at least a few crinoid stem pieces. There are also tiny fragments of other fossil material and even a bit of dendrites on the piece. The calcite crystals are colorless and exceptionally lustrous. I checked the vug for additional minerals with a 10X loupe and noticed there was considerable compacted dirt/dust between the crystals so I cleaned the specimen and it looks even better now. The specimen sits perfectly in the horizontal position for display so that the sawn backside is not visible. Of course, this could be placed in hydrochloric acid to remove the sawn face if this is too bothersome. I might note that the matrix shows a dull and muted yellow color under UV light--no doubt from any dolomite present in the matrix. Less likely is the presence of microscopic hydrocarbons--these usually fluoresce a yellow color. Please check my feedback and my other eBay items. All specimens are carefully wrapped, come with complete and accurate labels and are quickly shipped. As always, your complete satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed and I even offer FREE return shipping on any item that fails to satisfy for any reason---you can't go wrong. I'm reminded of the firm pledge printed on the old Foote Mineral Company mineral catalogs from more than a century ago, "Quality of specimens is assured as we permit return of specimens at our expense." Thanks for looking! I buy collections! Please contact me if you have a collection for sale or know of one that is available. I will pay a finder's fee to anyone that can point me to an eventual purchase!
Price: 22 USD
Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
End Time: 2024-10-27T23:40:01.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
