Barite on Fluorite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

This locality was known for producing some attractive Barite / Fluorite combos about 10 years ago, but they are notably scarce on the market now. THIS particular piece certainly among the most distinctive, aesthetic and fine quality I've seen. Several big, layered groups of white bladed Barite (with individual crystals measuring up to 4.3 cm on edge) are coated with a gentle sugary coating of Quartz to create a lovely drusy effect and sitting atop gemmy crystals of Fluorite showing soft purplish and green hues when backlit. The habit of the Fluorites is predominantly cubic, but you can see small dodecahedral modifications along the corners and edges. VERY little damage, only a few small spots that you can't see without really looking closely. The best part of the specimen is that it's actually complete on the back as it's recrystallized ("re-healed"). This makes the piece nearly a complete "floater"(!) as I can only one tiny point of attachment. You can see from the photos that the piece displays beautifully. If you're a fan of Chinese minerals or great showy cabinet sized association pieces, don't pass this one up. You may never see another one quite like as nothing has come out of this mine for a few years. Valued at $4,850 in the inventory. Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.