Fluorite (color-zoned) (classic material)

Item Description

When it comes to contemporary localities for Fluorite around the world, the renowned Le Burg Mine in France was a powerhouse. This well-known mine produced some of the finest, largest, and most colorful display specimens of Fluorite from anywhere in Europe. That's not to say it's a "new" locality, as the mine had been known since before the Middle Ages for its copper content, but it operated for approximately 50 years (closing in 2006) with the specific intent to collect Fluorite specimens. The industrial use of Fluorite is mainly for flux for smelting, and in the production of certain glasses and enamels, but Le Burg produced such fine specimens that many were too beautiful to send to the crusher. This piece is a wonderful single cube of this classic material featuring a gemmy interior with a blue color on the exterior edges, and a lovely yellow/golden hue in the center. The piece does a slight color shift in different temperature lighting. I can see minor edge wear on the display side, but it's still in good condition. A gorgeous example of this well-known and now hard to find material from France.