Fluorite (GEM crystals) with Calcite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

A gorgeous, three-dimensional display specimen of high quality Fluorite crystals associated with Calcite crystals from the famous Xianghualing Mine. This locality is renowned for producing some of the finest GEM quality Fluorites from any Chinese locality. The crystals on this specimen are mostly cubic in habit, but show minor dodecahedral modifications along the edges giving them an interesting mix of glassy smooth faces and with pseudo-etched edges. The largest crystal measures up to 2.7 cm on edge and as you can see they are WATER CLEAR in clarity. The back of the specimen hosts attractive, "disc"-like white flattened Calcite crystals for a nice touch. The piece is in very good condition with only minor roughness in areas, and is nearly crystallized all the way around with only one real point of attachment on the back edge. It would make a great addition to a Fluorite suite, or a collection of Chinese minerals. BETTER IN PERSON, it was incredibly difficult to convey the quality in the photos. Valued at $800 for the form, aesthetics and quality. 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.