Fluorite

Item Description

In the early 2000s, we started to see these amazing combinations of green and sometimes purple octahedra, perched in white quartz matrix, start to come out of China. This is a large example from those days, with sharp green octahedral fluorite crystals to 4 cm on edge at largest. Some purple highlights can be seen. It is a medium color, and really does not have high luster but then, few of them did. For the size, it is in good condition overall although it must be noted there are some minor damages and a few tips missing. It is more a piece to be appreciated for the color contrast, the geometry, and the sheer size (just about exactly a foot across!). Although a bit dull, it seems to have not been well cleaned in a lab, and probably needs a good cleaning that will help remove a surface coating and would benefit from the full cleaning modern prep labs can do. From the exhibit collection of the Rice Museum, with labels (although please note, as is typical for the early days of MINDAT and China translation of mineral locations, they had a slightly wrong locality which we have corrected). Valued $2500-plus.