Fluorite (gemmy crystals)

Item Description

When considering the great mineral localities in Mexico, the prodigious Naica Mine has to be in the upper ranks. This mine is home to the famous "Cave of Swords", which are home to the largest Gypsum crystals ever found, but there are many other mineral species found at Naica, including some truly iconic Fluorites. This is a very attractive small cabinet sized specimen featuring a group of fine quality, sharp, very gemmy crystals of Fluorite which are associated with beige Calcite plus black Sphalerite, grey Galena, and golden Pyrite matrix. The Fluorite crystals are predominantly octahedral in their form, but I can see dodecahedral and cube faces, among the multiple modifying faces all over. The bigger crystal measures 4.8 cm. While the Fluorites might appear to be colorless, they are actually a beautiful pastel mint green hue. Very good quality, but please note that one of the corners of the big Fluorite is damaged. This one was difficult to photograph/video but it's very attractive in person and would make a fine addition to any Fluorite suite or a collection of minerals from Naica. This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".