Fluorite (classic material) (fluorescent)

Item Description

A fantastic and sculptural plate of classic, deep-green GEMMY Fluorites from the famous Rogerley Mine in England. This piece was mined in the early 2000s, and is features dozens upon dozens of crystals with excellent luster, gemminess and that classic green hue. These fine cubic crystals also exhibit the well-known penetration twin habit that is seen in Fluorites throughout Weardale. The fairly large pair of interpenetrating twinned crystals feature individuals measuring up to 1.3 cm on edge. In sunlight or even some halogen lights, it exhibits day-glow fluorescence and shows purple and green at the same time, and under UV light, the piece glows with a beautiful bluish color. Just a fine, aesthetic piece of what are some of the most well-known and beloved Fluorites to come out of any world locality in the last few decades. Please note that the back of the specimen has been carved, creating a bit of a pedestal on the back, so the piece can sit on its own without a base or clay. Valued $2,200.
From the collection of Armon McPherson, a retired physicist, now living in New Mexico. Armon received his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1985, and worked at the laser laboratory at the University of Illinois at Circle Center. In the summer of 1997, Armon moved to the Argonne National Laboratory where he worked at the Advanced Photon Source, then the world’s largest synchrotron facility dedicated as an x-ray source. In 2001, he was asked to join a team at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque to conduct laser research for DARPA. Finally, staying within Sandia, he transferred to the Z Facility, the world’s most powerful x-ray facility. He retired in the spring of 2017. Armon's introduction to mineral collecting came in the 1980s during graduate school when he attended his first mineral show. He took up the hobby of faceting gems, and focused his early collection on gem crystals, and later transitioned into collecting non-gem species. We are proud to offer specimens from his worldwide mineral collection here for you.