Calcite, Calcium carbonate, CaCO3 This specimen is one of many collected from Taffs Well quarry, Cardiff , South Wales. There are several varieties of crystal to be found at this quarry. In this specimen the crystals are stubby and prismatic, with a pale cream colouration. The crystals have quite obvious horizontal striations, and are growing from a base of massive calcite.
Labradorite, ((Ca,Na)(Al,Si)4O8 is a feldspar mineral and is an intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase feldspar series. When polished it's iridescent properties are revealed in an effect known as labradorescence. For this reason, it is often used to make jewelery. This specimen displays the plagioclase content, which is usually 40% to 60%. and comes from Larvic in Norway.
Inesite, is a complex inosilicate mineral, with a formula Ca2(Mn,Fe)7Si10O28(OH)2 · 5H2O To give it a full title, it is a hydrous calcium manganese silicate. The appearance of the specimen is true to type with prismatic pink coloured crystals, with chisel shaped terminations. The specimen is from Kuruman in South Africa.
Calcite, calcium carbonate, CaCO3 This simple specimen is part of a larger druse of scalenahedral crystals on a limestone base. The crystals are well formed and have a colour which could be called light cream. The origin is Colemans limestone quarry, Mendip hills, Somerset.
Haematite, Fe2O3, Iron oxide, This specimen, because of it's silvery appearance, can sometimes be labelled as micaceous haematite. This can be misleading, because there is no mica content. The specimen is from Bamfylde mine in Devon.