Fluorite (RARE ''cross''-shaped modified crystal)

Item Description

The El Hammam Mine in Morocco is a well-known source of Fluorite crystals, found in a wide range of colors. Typically the crystals from this locality are simple cubes, but THIS piece features a remarkably rare "cross"-shaped modified crystal ("cruciform"), but as far as I can tell, it's not twinned, it's simply a highly modified crystal. The predominant cubic faces are clearly present, but the corners are abruptly interrupted, creating the clearly visible "cross" form when viewed from the top. There are actually a couple of smaller Fluorites that show a bit of the same modification, but it's the big 2.1 cm crystal where the habit is really defined. In addition to the cubic faces, I can see what I believe to be trapezohedral modifications on the edges. I thought they could be tetrahexahedral faces, but they're don't seem to be oriented correctly. The Fluorites are somewhat gemmy, with a soft icy green hue and some drusy white Quartz in areas, sitting on massive white Calcite matrix. If you're a fan of worldwide Fluorites, crystal morphology or simply unique specimens, this is something that you're not going to find anywhere else on the market, so don't miss out. It's a special piece, with a habit that I can't find reported anywhere from the locality. It's impossible to put a fair market value on a piece like this, as I have nothing to compare it to, but rest assured we don't have another like it, so this is your only chance to pick one up.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#115 M), 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 for the coming months/years through our various platforms.