Fluorite (unusually colored crystal) on Quartz

Item Description

For well over 20 years, China has been producing a good number of fine quality crystallized Fluorite specimens. Over that time, certain mines have stood out as producing what are certainly the top tier of specimens, and the Yaogangxian Mine is among the most prestigious due to the quantity and quality of its specimens. These fantastic piece from this now classic mine will go down among the most distinctive, eye-catching and downright impressive found in China. Here we have a showy small cabinet display specimen featuring fine quality, lustrous, gemmy, group Fluorite measuring 5.6 cm across, showing a unique coloring with a combination of pastel green, blue and purple hues underneath, but the outermost edges feature a rarely seen "smoky" color that is distinctive and alluring. The Fluorite group is sitting on lustrous, hexagonal prisms of white Quartz, creating a wonderful contrast against the unique Fluorite crystals. A thin ridge of tan Muscovite crystals makes for a nice accent on one side. When backlit, you can see the Fluorite group is nearly WATER-CLEAR internally, once you get look deep inside. No damage that I can find, and what a special and different style from this outstanding locality. The piece displays wonderfully and stands out as a fine example from this famous mine. I'm sure many of you know how difficult it has become to obtain pieces of this quality with such excellent aesthetics and balance today. Valued at $3,000.
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/biographies_labels/smalestephen/ ) or on Wikipedia.