I'm pleased to offer this excellent specimen of Calcite with Goethite from the Wessels mine, Hotazel, Northern Cape, South Africa. The specimen measures 4.16 x 3.07 x 2.36 inches or 10.63 x 7.80 x 5.99cm and is from the Charlie Key dealer stock and comes with a former label from OBG International of Green Valley, AZ with a price of $480 still attached.

  Charles Locke Key (1935-2021) was a noted collector and dealer who specialized in African specimens, especially those from the world's greatest single mineral locality--the Tsumeb mine in Namibia. He was fortunate to have two minerals named in his honor; namely ludlockite from Tsumeb in 1970 and keyite from Tsumeb in 1975. Ludlockite is named for the middle names of dealer partners Frederick Ludlow Smith III (1939-2014) and Charles Locke Key. 

  I bought the entire dealer inventory of OBG International (the late Tom Corson) in September 2015 after he unexpectedly passed away from complications from leg surgery. His stock contained almost two showcases of Charlie Key specimens and this is the best of the few specimens still in my stock.

  The Wessels mine is a world famous mineral locality that is hosted in an underground manganese mine. The ore grades from 45-55% manganese--a strategic mineral used in battery and steel production. Eighteen minerals new to science have been discovered here and nearly 130 different species have been recorded from the mine.

  This piece shows globular masses of highly intergrown and botryoidal pink masses of calcite. Additionally, there are "asparagus-tipped" calcite crystals that are coated with chocolate brown goethite--these are best seen on what I consider to be the backside.

  The fluorescence on this piece is incredible! It fluoresces under both longwave and shortwave UV light but the brightest and best response is under shortwave. I took a few photos with my SONY camera but the color didn't come out well and was far too yellow. The photo shown here was taken with my phone and the bright orange-red response is very accurate--it is simply outstanding!!

  Please check my feedback and my other eBay items. All specimens are carefully wrapped, come with complete and accurate labels and are quickly shipped. As always, your complete satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed and I even offer FREE return shipping on any item that fails to satisfy for any reason---you can't go wrong. I'm reminded of the firm pledge printed on the old Foote Mineral Company mineral catalogs from more than a century ago,  

  "Quality of specimens is assured as we permit return of specimens at our expense."

  

  Thanks for looking!

  I buy collections! Please contact me if you have a collection for sale or know of one that is available. I will pay a finder's fee to anyone that can point me to an eventual purchase!