Detailed information
Dimensions
78 x 55 x 25
mm
Weight
122 g
Locality
Zorge, Bad Sachsa Harz, Lower Saxony Germany
Condition
No recorded repairs
Clausthalite is a rare lead selenide (PbSe) and on this small cabinet specimen forms granular metallic patches sparsely distributed through a massive milky white Calcite matrix. The largest patch of Clausthalite measures 7 x 3 mm and all occurrences are metallic black, often with a slight iridescent blue sheen. The Calcite surrounding the Clausthalite is partly crystallised, displaying occasional prism faces. The Calcite covers the top surface of a black and earthy carmine basaltic looking matrix. A rather lovely old German label accompanies this specimen, written in a beautiful, yet now somewhat faint, copperplate hand.