Dolomite with Fluorite and Quartz

Item Description

A very beautiful dolomite from a mine more famous for fluorite, this piece stands on its own merit as a worldwide dolomite specimen from an unusual locality for the species, compared to what we normally see. In this pocket, it was the dominant species, even in a famous fluorite mine! Dolomite from Shangbao has set a new standard for the species from a Chinese locality, and is really unique in its overall form and aesthetics, too. This is a beautiful cluster from 2010 mining, which had generally the best dolomite crystals yet found there. It is complete all around 360 degrees and with no damage. It has complex, stepped dolomite crystals stacked one atop the other, and associated with little transparent fluorites and with some quartz crystals. It is one of the more elegant examples of this habit that I have seen for sale. Joe Budd photos. From the collection of dealer/collector Ken Roberts, who scoured China in the late 1990s and early 2000s and built a great collection of Small Cabinet pieces, and Shangbao pieces as its own suite - from which this came (valued $2000 about ten years ago).