Quartz, Marcasite, Calcite, Dolomite

This striking miniature features a clear to milky-white quartz crystal attractively nestled within a nest of grey dolomite. Accenting the piece are a few honey-brown scalenohedral calcite crystals perched along the side, along with a fine sprinkling of brassy marcasite on the dolomite matrix. The combination of crystal species makes this an especially appealing and well-balanced association specimen. A highly aesthetic miniature that nicely represents the diverse mineral assemblages possible from this locality.

The Nanisivik Mine, located on northern Baffin Island approximately 750 km north of the Arctic Circle, was one of the world’s most northerly operating base-metal mines. It opened in 1976 and primarily produced zinc and lead from Mississippi Valley type mineralization hosted in dolostone. Although the mine closed permanently in 2002 due to declining resources and metal prices, Nanisivik has become legendary among collectors for the distinctive and often beautifully crystallized specimens it produced.