Fluorite ("phantom" cubes) on matrix (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

The Yaogangxian Mine is well-known for producing some really fine quality, eye-catching Fluorite specimens, and this piece is a great example of said material. It is not only a full cabinet, but it has excellent balance, aesthetics and beautiful crystals. Many razor-sharp, lustrous, gemmy, purple "phantom" cubes measuring up to 2.3 cm on edge are sitting beautifully on the underlying matrix. VERY little damage, most of the crystals are pristine, and I love the way that they are intergrown to give them more depth and three-dimensional appeal. Truly it's difficult to obtain pieces of this quality with such excellent aesthetics and balance, especially these days when little is coming out of the mine. Honestly, it's better in person, and this one is a complete steal for the starting bid because I had it priced in the inventory at $2,500 for size quality and the fact that it came from the presigious Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Steve, along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, 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.