Calcite included by Hematite

English calcites set the world standard for clarity, and the iron mines imparted the gift of kidney ore and hematite inclusions. The variety was somewhat limited, as the scalenohedron (often modified by the prism) was the dominant crystal form and the color ranges were limited to the red range imparted by iron oxides. Thus, we look for provenance as a defining factor for the importance of any given specimen. This piece was purchased from Richard (Dick) Barstow ( a renown British dealer in the middle of the 19th century) in 1981. It was purchased by Forrest (Boots) Ellsworth Cureton (1932-2020).  A memorium on Mr Cureton can be found here (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00357529.2021.1875756 ). It found its way into Dan Weinrichs inventory and I purchased it in 2005.

Locality: Biggrigg Mine, Bigrigg, Egremont, Copeland, Cumbria, England

Composition: calcium carbonate