Fluorite (''phantom'' crystals) with Marcasite inclusions

Item Description

A fine quality example of this fairly elusive material from the Ladywash Mine in Derbyshire, England featuring sharp, well-formed, good-sized cubic crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 4.4 cm on edge, free of matrix. The Fluorites show what I can best describe as a "silvery" hue internally when backlit, but you can also see attractive "phantom" zoning, which is highlighted by attractive little metallic Marcasite crystals frozen inside the Fluorites. The piece is in excellent condition with no major damage to the Fluorites, save the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. Certainly one of the best pieces of this material that we've had to offer in the auctions as the crystals are good-sized with sharp, lustrous well-formed faces.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#70 E), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection through our various platforms.