Ile-de-France, France

10 cm field of view. Illuminated to enhance the silky effect. S118-23 Excalibur Mineral Company specimen.

© 2008, JGW, courtesy of Photographic Guide to Miner

Stacked cluster of doubly-terminated gypsum crystals. No point of attachment - a floater. Overall size of mineral specimen: 7x4x3 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-4 cm.

© 2002 John H. Betts

Elongated fishtail-twin of transparent selenite without matrix. In the center of the formation are cloudy inclusions resembling feathers. Excellent old specimen ca. 1900. Overall size of mineral specimen: 10x2.5x1.5 cm. Size of individual crystals: 10 cm.

© 2002 John H. Betts

Menilite - brown nodular concretion.

© Christopher O'Neill

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Collector & photographer C. GINESTE.

© Cédrick Gineste

Gypsum, translucent crystal twinned on (101), Montmarte law. A number of these were found during installation of an underground electric cable in the Montmarte District of Paris about 1997. Obtained from Parisian mineral dealer Alain Carion at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show in 1998. K. Nash specimen and image.

© Kelly Nash

French old classic, Calcite with sand inclusions from Fontainebleau. Ex N.Y. State Museum ( geology ) obtained from Gilbert Gauthier. Collection and photo, Paul De Bondt.

© Collection and photo, Paul De Bondt

Field of view : 3mm, Photo & Colection : JM.Johannet.

© Jean-Marc Johannet

twinned gypsum from old closed quarry, end great specimen 5" x 2,6" x 3,4" or 12,6 centimètres x 6,6 cm x 8,5 cm Gypsum an excellent source for this, the crystals are a beautiful transparency and twinning is clearly visible.

© mineralpassion89

Taille de l'image 16 mm

© Collection & photo Georges BRET

7 cm X 5 cm, a marvel that the gypsum, a visual explosion, both literally and figuratively

© mineralpassion89

Rare locality piece of molecular-type Sand-Calcite commonly called “Gogotte” (Etonnante molécule géante de Calcite-sable appelée communément « Gogotte ») The "Blue John" Mineral Collection - F104 (acquired 7 October 2012 - St Juery Mineral Exchange Show 2012)

© Olivier Mével - The "Blue John" Mineral Collection

Menilite - close-up of surface.

© Christopher O'Neill

A group of acute rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals, showing two generations of crystallization.

© 2009 HGG

A cluster of calcite crystals included with sand.

© A&M

Calcite unusual for this locality. Collected in 2010. Photo : Frédéric Hède.

Sand-calcite specimen from the William W. Jefferis Collection (#4352) at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (#2300). Photograph taken in 1972. Scale at bottom of image is an inch with a rule at one cm. At one time these specimens were probably quite abundant, but you rarely see them for sale today.

© Rock Currier

A classic French specimen of striking fan-like clusters of calcite rhombs included with sand from this noted locale. Fascinating older material from the Fioravanti Collection.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Specimen 180mm length x 100mm width at base x 40 mm thickness. there is a split from a crystal form lenticular.beautiful amber color and quality. collected between 1976 and 1978 on the site. Photo and collection CLAUDE jean-marie

© jean-marie.CLAUDE

Calcite unusual for this locality. Photo : Frédéric Hède.

Typical cluster of sand-calcite rhombs, heavily encrusted by sand. Note the sharp edges of the calcite; some work (and ultrasound bath) is necessary to remove the sand...

© Jacques Malassé

A 11cm gypsum crystal. This sample is from Philadelphia museum,and dating from XIXth

© Patrice Cmolik

Chondrite meteorite (fell on Draveil, suburbs of Paris,July 12/2011). Section with internal structure. Olympus OM DE M5 Mark II.StackUnit. Mitutoyo Plan Apo X 5 /Achromatic doublet retro/ Aperture. Photo & Collection Christophe Boutry.

© Christophe Boutry

A French “super-classic” group of acute rhombohedral crystals of calcite that have grown including white sand. It comes from the Palix collection but it does not have its original label. Found in the 19th century.

© Fabre Minerals https://www.fabreminerals.com

Rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Former Dr. F. Krantz & R. Lang specimen.

© Stefan Koch

Length 9cm A tabular white gypsum crystal with several other crystals twinned perpendicularly on one face. The sample looks like a little game sailer. Collection and photo Yves masson

© Yves Masson

Dimensions 6cm X 6cm Airy bunch gypsum crystals with habit tabular. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Rough sand-calcite crystals on a sector of the ceiling of the cave in the open air since 1891.

© François Périnet

Twinned Gypsum From Nantes museeum, collected arround 1827 Size: 12 X 7 cm Collection and photo: Arliguie M

© Arliguie M

Dimensions 7cm X 7cm Beautiful gypsum bundle with some assymetry and some perpendicularity. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

An aggregate of classic rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Specimen is from the collection of the British Museum of Natural History #71828 (1975). Scale at bottom of image is an inch with a rule at one cm.

© Rock Currier

small group aesthetic of gypsum crystals in "spearhead" Specimen 70x60mm.the largest crystal measuring 45mm in length look in the upper crystal form lenticular and bottom cleavage in "spearhead" .beautiful amber color and quality. collected between 1976 and 1978 on the site. Photo and collection CLAUDE jean-marie

© jean-marie.CLAUDE

Light-blue Celestite in a calcite vug Field is 9,2 x 6,05 mm Zeiss luminar 63 mm on bellows + nikon D1x. CZP Photo & collection Chollet Pascal (# 1503)

© Chollet Pascal

Length 20cm Thickness 7mm Pale yellow twinned cristals of gypsum. The sample had been found in 1966. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Big specimen 365mm length x 180mm width at base x 85mm thickness. there is a split from a crystal form lenticular.beautiful amber color and quality. collected between 1976 and 1978 on the site. This specimen was in my collection since its discovery, I yield to my friend Pierre Laurent in May 2009. Photo CLAUDE jean-marie , collection Pierre ...

© jean-marie.CLAUDE

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Former I. Löffler collection.

© Stefan Koch

A ball of calcite crystal with sand inclusions. The piece fluoresces weakly white in both long and short wave UV light.

© Maggie Wilson

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals.

© A&M

Length 9cm Stunning gypsum bundle with only very fine tabular crystals. All the twinnings are complicated. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Very good sand-calcite crystals with sharp edges on an area of the ceiling of the cave outside since 1891.

© François Périnet

Slab of massive gypsum containing brown gypsum crystals. Originally collected by Henry A. Ward. It is pictured (Fig. 12) in The Book of Minerals by A.C. Hawkins (1935). From D'Agostino collection

© Howard Heitner

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Former I. Löffler collection.

© Stefan Koch

Strontianite UVA

Rough sand-calcite crystals on a sector of the ceiling of the cave in the open air since 1891.

© François Périnet

This mineralogical curiosity is locally known as "gogotte" (see https://www.mindat.org/glossary/gogotte) A gogotte is a naturally-shaped mineral rarity consisting of tiny quartz fragments held together by silica. They formed during the Quaternary in-situ in the Oligocene Fontainebleau sandstone. These bizarre sandstone formations from ...

Small Celestite crystals in a chalcedony cavity measuring 14mm.. specimen dating from 1973 to 1974 (excavation of the "hole des Halles) Petits cristaux de Celestite dans une cavité de calcédoine mesurant 14mm. . specimen datant 1973-74 (travaux d'excavation du "trou des Halles") Photograph and collection: CLAUDE jm .

© Jean-Marie Claude

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Former I. Löffler collection.

© Stefan Koch

A large loose crystal section of transparent colorless gypsum measuring 27.5 x 18.5 x 4.0 cm in size. Complete all around and in very good condition. Neat locality piece! Ex Wolfgang E. Henkel collection.

© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Acquired by exchange.

Gemmy gypsum crystallization. A main biterminated crystal is twinned with two bundles, one perpendiculary in the middle, the other going from the middle . toward the end. Very nice piece. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Length 12cm Long tabular main gypsum crystal with on each side several twinning with many other tabular gypsum crystals forming bundles. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

In NHM Paris park

© Olivier Mével

Franco Amadori photo. Paolo Franchi collection.

Sand cemented by calcite into spheres and amorphous blobs.

Rough sand-calcite crystals on a sector of the ceiling of the cave outside since 1891.

© François Périnet

Strontianite UVC

Old sample collected in the endroit of XIX ème century From Villejuif quarter. Collection and photo :ARLIGUIE Michel

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals with slightly curved faces and edges.

© Curto Mila, Carles 2010

Length 18cm Dark orange twinned gypsum crystals. The sample had been found in 1966. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Slice of a larger gypsum twin (arrow head type), 11 x 20 cm, collected around 1900, from the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. It's an historical piece, the underground quarries lying under a great part of Paris and suburbs -althought still existing- are now closed and access is forbidden for safety. The label reads ...

© Jacques Malassé

A French “super-classic”. Very large floater nodule with white, very well defined rhombohedral calcite crystals that grew with inclusions of sand.Bellecroix, Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France. Former collection of Alain Tuel.EB36AC2

© Fabre Minerals https://www.fabreminerals.com

Curator Cristiano Ferraris from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris (France) chose this French calcite as his “Curator’s pick”: Let me introduce you “Mickey”: an amazing result of nature when she decide to create a masterpiece of calcite crystals growing in the presence of white pure quartz sand grains trapped during ...

© MNHN, Paris, France / Bernard Faye

Width 8cm Beautiful bunch with tabular limpid gypsum crystals. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

perfect Floating of Gypse from Angervilliers France View size 6,5cm x 5cm

© Mikael.Gonzales 2013

Celestite (greyish) and Calcite (creamy) from the hole of Halles FOV: 2 X 1 cm Collection and photo: Arliguie M

Aggregate of rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Franco Amadori photo. Paolo Franchi collection.

Floater group of very elongated rhombohedral crystals with very well defined faces and edges and with inclusions of white sand completely filling the sample. A French classic. Former collection of Claus Hedegaard number 7213.

© Fabre Minerals https://www.fabreminerals.com

Dimensions 7cm X 7cm Association of two same gypsum bundles joining with an angle about 45°. Each bundle is formed by a big tabular crystal twinned laterally with fan of very thin tabular crystals. Collection and photo Yves Masson

© Yves Masson

Gypsum View size 6cm x 5cm

© Mikael.Gonzales 2012

The Montmartre quarries used to provide Gypsum from ancient times for making the finest plaster for building or artistic casting : the «Paris plaster or parisian White». At the end of the nineteenth century the quarries contained almost 200 miles of galleries. The plaster issued from Gypsum was largely employed in buildings hence people were ...

© Olivier Mével - The "Blue John" Mineral Collection

Gorgeous standing sand-calcite of Bellecroix. (Fière tenue pour cette Calcite de Bellecroix) The "Blue John" Mineral Collection - F24 (acquired 7 October 2012 - St Juery Mineral Exchange Show 2012)

© Olivier Mével - The "Blue John" Mineral Collectio

Large colorless transparent crystal section of gypsum measuring 26.5 x 10.0 x 1.2 cm in size. Ex Wolfgang E. Henkel collection.

© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Hedgehog-shaped aggregates of small rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals (up to 8 mm individually) with sand grains - about 45 mm diameter each, from the Carrière du Puiselet. Collection of Raymond Dedeyne (RCD2769 - 06/2014) - purchased at Sainte Marie. Photo and copyright Theo Muller.

A very aesthetic group of two main rhombohedral sand-calcite crystals. Such calcite specimens grew in the presence of white sand and grains were trapped during crystallization. Collection & photo: Alain TUEL.

© Alain TUEL