Celestine, Calcite

Delicate, tightly intergrown blades of pastel blue celestine blades cover the face of this attractive specimen from the famous Dundas Quarry area of southwestern Ontario. The reverse is lined with honey-yellow dogtooth calcite crystals, making for an equally attractive display from either side. A fine example from one of Ontario's classic mineral localities.

The Dundas Quarry has supplied aggregate for well over a century, with quarrying in the area dating back to the mid-1800s. Although the quarry became well known among Ontario collectors for its celestine, undamaged specimens are surprisingly uncommon, as the brittle crystals were often shattered during blasting and extraction. With collecting no longer permitted, quality specimens such as this have become increasingly difficult to obtain.