Calcite Crystals

This attractive and impressive group of large and transparent scalenohedral or ‘dog-tooth’ calcite crystals is from a pool in Cliefden (formerly Belubula) Caves. They grew in a cave pool whose waters became supersaturated with dissolved calcium carbonate, allowing these large crystals to grow when carbon dioxide escaped and solid calcium carbonate came out of the solution.

The crystals were donated in 1923 by Miss Judy Hosie, whose father, W F Hosie, owned the Carlton pastoral property that contain the caves. The calcite crystals were found in Main Cave, from a ‘crystal grotto’ in a ledge about 3 m above the cave floor, about 92 m below the surface. The ledge was broken into from above, exposing a lens-shaped opening 2.4 m wide, 1.2 m deep and 45.7 cm high, its floor, roof and sides studded with beautiful groups and single dog-tooth crystals of transparent, colourless calcite up to 20 cm long.

Zinc Corporation Mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. 10 x 6 x 7 cm. D.50038. Albert Chapman Collection.