eCryptonite #028

The model used is a legendary specimen of hexagonal Calcite crystals from Malmberget, Sweden.

This one is special. The pocket was found in 1989, and only existed for 1 day before it was destroyed. So there are extremely few specimens from this finding.

The size of the specimen is 149x305x185 mm (6,7 kg) and will be one of the biggest existing from this pocket. Of my knowledge the other masterpieces from this pocket is in the local Mineral Museum in Malmberget, owned by the mining company (LKAB)


Miners came across the pocket with these crystals in 1989, and two local miners who were allowed to extract used their free time in the evening / night to rescue some specimens. The following day, the pocket was covered with cement to ensure mining. In other words, the specimens extracted from this pocket are extremely rare. This story is told in the norwegian mineral magazine "Stein" edition 2021/3, page 6.



Malmberet, Norrbotten County, Lapland, Sweden:
The mines of Malmberget are the second-largest iron ore mines in Sweden.

Annual production is over 5 million tonnes of iron ore. It is one of the largest underground mines for ore in the world. The deepest point is 1390 meters below ground.

Sometimes the miners hit pockets with crystals, but seldom they are collected as it would slow the work. Luckily there are workers who are trying to save/collect the most interesting stuff.

My father had friends in the mining companies in Sweden and traded minerals directly from them. Most of the stuff he got was back about 15-25 years ago. Much of this material is now long gone, and seldom seen at the market.