Fluorite (gemmy "phantom" crystals) (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

The Yaogangxian Mine in China is one of the top localities for Fluorite in recent years. The superior quality, size, color and gemminess of the various specimens is truly impressive. This specimen was mined in the early 2000s, and is a wonderful thumbnail example of the material. This piece features a group of very sharp, gemmy, lustrous cubes with "phantom" color zoning which ranges from a soft blue on the exterior to an inky purple closer to the center and finishes with a green "core". The crystals are in very good shape, with the only real damage of note being on the back / reverse side of the specimen where it was removed from the pocket wall. You can see a small amount of Quartz and sulfides on the reverse side as well. Interestingly, the piece has a selective fluorescence, where only the lighter green and blue zones will glow under UV light, and the purple areas so no fluorescence whatsoever. This certainly is considered "contemporary" classic material, so if you collect Chinese minerals or worldwide Fluorites, don't miss out on this one. Valued at $400. 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.