Calcite (UV-active!); Crestmore, Jurupa Hills, CA, USA; Cab; unique piece

Calcite (UV-active) from Crestmore, Jurupa Hills, California, USA – cabinet specimen as unique piece

This attractive Calcite cabinet specimen from the Crestmore Quarries in the Jurupa Hills is covered with numerous well-formed Calcite crystals. The crystals display predominantly white to cream-coloured tones with a vitreous to silky lustre, forming a dense natural crystal aggregate. Under shortwave UV (SWUV), the Calcite exhibits an intense reddish-orange fluorescence, making it a particularly impressive collector's specimen. As a natural mineral, each unique piece differs slightly in crystal size, arrangement and fluorescence pattern.

Geology & Locality

Calcite is one of the most common carbonate minerals and forms in hydrothermal veins, metamorphic rocks and limestone-rich environments. The famous Crestmore Quarries in the Jurupa Hills near Riverside, California, are among the world's best-known localities for fluorescent minerals and have produced numerous rare and exceptionally well-crystallised specimens. Calcite from this locality is especially valued for its strong red to orange fluorescence under shortwave UV and is considered a classic among fluorescent mineral collectors.