Fluorite (GEM ''ice'') crystals on unusual etched Quartz (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

This is a wonderful association specimen from the famed Huanggang Deposit in Inner Mongolia featuring several WATER CLEAR, very sharp, highly lustrous, completely colorless ''ice'' crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 1.5 cm across sitting atop unusual etched and somewhat skeletal Quartz crystal matrix. The Quartz crystals vary in habit and are about as odd as any Quartz I've seen from this locality. The Fluorites show a beautiful combination of cubic, dodecahedral and octahedral faces, and they live up to their nickname of ''ice'' crystals as they are devoid of color (which actually means they are chemically pure) and complete GEM QUALITY. The desirable branching nature of the Quartz crystals gives the appearance of an old twisted tree or other vegetation, and the Fluorites are like sparkling little jewels gently sitting on top of the branches. The piece has been sawn so it can sit on its own without the aid of a base or clay. Fine quality and really different from most pieces you'll see from this locality. The retail price on this piece is $1,750. 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/biographies_labels/smalestephen/ ) or on Wikipedia.