Fluorite on Calcite with Gypsum

Item Description

An impressive 11.3 cm doubly terminated calcite crystal dramatically dominates this very showy and sculptural large combination specimen from this well-known location for a huge variety of mineral species and styles. It is an epithermal antimony-gold deposit, and so has a mix of unusual species together, including some that surprise us! The translucent, tan calcites have waxy faces. Scattered coatings of lavender fluorite and a dense covering of very glassy and lustrous, small gypsum crystals are striking accessories and complements. Nearly pristine, with only a bit of gentle bruising to the large calcite crystal. The purple fluorite we see on these, in the past, was both identified (in China and USA) and was sold originally by us and many others as Yttrofluorite, but analyses have shown that there is no measurable Yttrium in at least some of the specimens checked to date recently, and so we include this note here and will simply label these as Fluorite from here on out. See: https://www.mindat.org/mesg-609540.html. Some may have yttrium, but it seems we can no longer conclude they all do, if that matters to you as a collector. A bonus: Modest deep orange-red calcite LW UV fluorescence. This recent find over the last couple of years makes for beautiful and large Chinese combination specimens.