Fluorite (cubes on octahedrons) (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

Everybody has seen these amazing green Fluorites over the years. They are certainly some of the most attractive examples of a species that is found in a plethora of Chinese localities. This cabinet sized piece features predominantly cubic Fluorites, which are notably gemmy, with sharp, smooth, lustrous faces. The largest Fluorite measures 3.0 cm on edge, but if you look closely you can see that these cubes are actually growing on top of a previous generation of green Fluorite composed of modified groups which are oriented into octahedral forms. The back of the piece has a thin coating of sugary white Quartz, which bled over to the front in small areas. For the most part, the majority of the crystals are in good shape, and I can only spot a few small imperfections. If you're a fan of Fluorites or Chinese minerals, this is something that we don't see much on the market anymore, and would make a fine addition. Originally priced in our inventory at $1,800. 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.