Calcite

This specimen features a lovely, translucent, colourless rhombohedral calcite crystal with a silky interior sheen. It is cleaved on the back and has a small amount of galena at the base. Although the exact mine is unknown, it originates from the Tri-State District, one of the most historically significant and prolific mining regions in the United States.

The Tri-State District, spans southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma, it's renowned for its exceptional calcite and fluorite mineral specimens. Mining operations in the region began in the 1850s and continued until the 1970s, with the district contributing an estimated 50% of the total lead and zinc output in the United States during its peak. Specimens from the Tri-State District, remain highly sought after by collectors and museums worldwide, as the mines have long since closed and the district is now largely inaccessible.