CALCITE – Lustrous Pagoda Crystals with Red Hematite, Fengjiashan Mine, China

This is a remarkable Calcite specimen displaying the distinctive stacked, "pagoda" or "mushroom" growth habit that made the Fengjiashan Mine famous among collectors after the first major finds of this type emerged in the mid-2000s. A well-formed central scalenohedron acted as the nucleus for a striking second generation of Calcite, which grew directly over the original crystal in a lustrous, stepped overgrowth.

The crystal faces of this second generation are exceptionally bright and glassy, and throughout them run vivid inclusions of brick-red Hematite, creating a bold chromatic contrast against the otherwise pale, translucent Calcite. The crystallization is well developed, with sharp edges and clean terminations that allow the geometry of the scalenohedral faces to be fully appreciated from multiple angles.

At 123 x 95 x 74 mm and 837 g, this is a substantial, display-worthy specimen combining size, aesthetics and a genuinely distinctive growth structure. It comes from the Fengjiashan Mine (also known as the Daye Copper Mine), within the Edong Mining District of Daye County, Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China — a locality tied to a copper-iron skarn deposit that has produced some of the most sought-after hematite-included Calcite specimens on the international market. Pieces of this quality, size and coloration from this specific find have become increasingly difficult to source in recent years.

Calcite is a carbonate mineral, the most stable natural polymorph of calcium carbonate, crystallizing in the trigonal system and typically forming rhombohedral, scalenohedral or prismatic crystals with a characteristic high luster and perfect rhombohedral cleavage. In this specimen, the striking brick-red color running through parts of the crystal faces is caused by microscopic inclusions of Hematite (iron oxide, Fe₂O₃) trapped within and along the growth surfaces of the second-generation Calcite, a well-documented coloring mechanism at this locality.

The unusual stepped, "pagoda-like" habit visible on this piece results from a second generation of scalenohedral Calcite crystallizing directly over an earlier-formed central scalenohedron, a multi-stage overgrowth phenomenon characteristic of specimens from this specific Chinese find. Formation took place within a hydrothermal skarn environment associated with the copper-iron ore deposits of the Daye mining district. Hematite-included Calcite from the Fengjiashan Mine is commonly reported to fluoresce orange under UV light; as this has not been specifically tested on this individual piece, we recommend verifying fluorescence under a UV lamp before assuming a reaction.

• Formula: CaCO₃ (Calcite), with Fe₂O₃ (Hematite) as inclusions
• Key chemical elements: Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen, Iron
• Hardness (Mohs scale): 3 (Calcite); 5.5–6.5 (Hematite inclusions)
• Mineral class: Carbonates (Calcite); Oxides (Hematite)
• Crystal system: Trigonal
• Crystal habit: Scalenohedral, multi-generation stepped overgrowth ("pagoda"/"mushroom" habit)
• Formation: Hydrothermal skarn deposit, copper-iron ore district
• Color: Colorless to translucent Calcite with brick-red Hematite inclusions
• Fluorescence: Reportedly orange under UV at this locality; not confirmed on this specific specimen

The Fengjiashan Mine, part of the Daye Copper Mine complex in Hubei Province, became internationally known among mineral collectors after striking finds of unusual mushroom- and pagoda-shaped Calcite crystals began surfacing in the mid-2000s. These specimens, in which a second generation of lustrous Calcite grows directly over an earlier scalenohedral crystal, quickly earned nicknames such as "pagoda calcite" and "mushroom calcite" in the international trade.

The same mining district is also the type locality for the rare silicate mineral Hubeite, and has produced fine specimens of Inesite, Apophyllite, Bornite and Quartz, making it one of the more mineralogically diverse localities to emerge from China in recent decades.

In crystal healing traditions, Calcite is regarded as an amplifying stone, believed to cleanse and raise energy while supporting mental clarity, motivation and emotional balance. Hematite, present here as vivid inclusions within the Calcite, is traditionally associated with grounding, protection and physical vitality, believed to help anchor scattered energy back into the body. Together, this combination is thought by some to blend energetic amplification with stabilizing, grounding qualities. As always, these interpretations are not scientifically proven.

Photos: All photographs are taken under professional lighting conditions to accurately highlight crystal structure, color and detail. However, slight variations in tone and appearance may occur depending on screen calibration and ambient lighting conditions.

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