Calcite from the Oege Quarry, Hohenlimburg – Step-Like Intergrown Crystals

This Calcite specimen from the Oege Quarry near Hohenlimburg in the Sauerland region of Germany shows numerous colorless to white Calcite crystals that are densely and partly step-like intergrown. This stacked arrangement gives several crystal groups a distinctly lenticular to scale-like overall appearance.

Measuring 8.2 × 5.5 × 3.0 cm and weighing 174 g, this is a cabinet specimen. The crystals cover large parts of the matrix and form a compact, three-dimensional crystal group.

Flattened Calcite crystals with step-like intergrowth

The Calcite crystals are colorless to white and predominantly translucent. Many crystals show a flattened to rhombohedral habit. Due to the close, step-like intergrowth of several crystal individuals, lenticular to scale-like structures are created visually.

This stacked crystallization is especially well visible in the detail image. The individual crystal faces show a subtle to locally more noticeable luster.

Several crystals and areas between the Calcite faces contain small dark gray to black inclusions or associated minerals. Their exact mineralogical identity has not been determined and is therefore deliberately left open.

Calcite from the Oege Quarry near Hohenlimburg

The Oege Quarry near Hohenlimburg is one of the known mineral localities in the Sauerland region. Calcite occurs there in various crystal forms and intergrowths and forms typical fracture and cavity mineralization together with other associated minerals.

This specimen shows a particularly interesting step-like Calcite intergrowth, in which the densely stacked crystals create a lenticular overall appearance.

The specimen comes from the collection of Dr. Diether Gräf and was purchased by him at a mineral show from mineral-expert.de. The reverse bears a handwritten collection number.