Fluorite (gemmy multi-color "phantom" crystal group) (ex Henry de Linde Collection)

Item Description

A wonderful small cabinet Fluorite from the famous Denton Mine. This piece features sharp, well-formed GEMMY cubic crystals measuring up to 4.7 cm on edge that feature a rich golden "core" with transitioning "phantom" color zones of blue and purple hues on the on the outer edges. There is a thin coverage of tiny "dog tooth"-shaped scalenohedral Calcite crystals along with some larger individual Calcite on the piece which makes for a nice touch to this attractive specimen from this historic mining district. Like virtually every Fluorite from this mine, the purple color zones of the crystals shift to a saturated blue color in sunlight. Excellent condition on the display side, I can see only few tiny imperfections, but there is a cleavage on the back (not visible when the piece is displayed). Great quality, and increasingly difficult to find on the market today as this mine along with many others in Southern Illinois are completely closed down. Priced at $1,400 in the inventory. From the collection of Henry de Linde (March 21, 1923 – April 4, 2019) of Hot Spring, Arkansas. Henry was one of the most prominent figures in the history of Arkansas mining and mineral collecting. Along with being a miner, mineral collector and an amateur mineralogist, de Linde was one of the founders of the Coon Creek Association mineral club. He was the owner of several key localities in Arkansas including the Diamond Jo Quarry (on the south rim of Magnet Cove), the type locality for Delindeite, which was named in his honor in 1987.