Gem Dolomite with Irredescent Chalcopyrite Pink quartz A small calcite gem perched

A small calcite gem perched on top of stark white dog tooth calcite

This quartz piece has rutile and byssolite inclusions

Locale: Zhejiang

Vietnam is one of my favorites

Here is a cute little octahedral fluorite cluster

Gem Dolomite with Irredescent Chalcopyrite Pink quartz A small calcite gem perchedWhen these gem dolomites were discovered in mid 2023 they were first thought to be iceland spar calcite (also known as optical calcite). What made this find so significant on the Chinese mineral market was that they were also purple! As purple calcite is a fairly uncommon (perhaps even rare) species, collectors sought them out with gusto. After a few months of circulating this material, the main supplier and miner decided to get the material tested