Calcita Ahumada
Calcita is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from El Carrizal, Zimapán, Hidalgo, México and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Large main crystal of smoky calcite in grey tones with internal shadows and good termination. On the grey earthy base are thousands of metallic pyrite microcrystals and secondary calcite growths, producing strong contrast. Intense red fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
History of this specimen
I note it was personally collected by the Mexican collector Daniel Pérez while searching the dumps.
About Calcita
Calcite from Zimapán is known among mineral collectors for its variety of forms and associations with other minerals. Specimens of black calcite are found, typically with well-defined crystals and good form. At Mina El Carrizal, some calcite shows grey colour and a strong pink to red fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
About the locality
Zimapán is a classic Mexican deposit with lead, zinc and metallic sulphide mineralisation, where calcite occurs associated with pyrite and sulphosalts.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0227
- Composition
- CaCO₃
- Name
- Calcita
- Variety
- Ahumada
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Lucimera
- Matrix
- terrosa gris
- Associations
- pirita
- Mine
- El Carrizal
- District / Municipality
- Zimapán
- Province
- Hidalgo
- Country
- México
- Size (cm)
- 8 x 4.5 x 3.5
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Daniel Pérez
- Etymology
- From Latin "calx" ("lime"), in allusion to its composition.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable