Fluorite w/ Baryte, Hydrocarbons & Bitumen (Hefendehl Coll.)

Item Description

Classic, showy and rich large combination plate from the famous Minerva No. 1 Mine of Illinois. Gemmy to translucent, lustrous, rich golden-amber fluorite cubes, to 4.5 cm, densely cover the sculpural, colorful piece. Off-white patches of tiny barite blades are a fine contrast and typical accessory. Bitumen is embedded on all of the cubes. LW UV light reveals the SURPRISE, as some of the crystals are included with fluorescent yellow Hydrocarbons. The noted periphery wear is certainly acceptable in the context of this fine older specimen. Ex Hefendehl Collection. Kurt Hefendehl was a most well-known collector in the mineral world all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started seriously collecting in the age of 14 and his great and various worldwide collection reached a number of over 6000 pieces. He was incredibly mineralogically active, until shortly before his passing in 2020 in the age of 82 years. His collection had, considering that high number of pieces, an unusual high quality standard from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics; and the minerals of the Black Forest where he spent many visits collecting (that and the Germany subcollection went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. The Italian suite went to Marini). We have the rest to offer over the next 2-3 years, through our platforms. We have lost a great friend and connoisseur, a true mineral collector of the Golden Age. 1269 grams or 2.8 pounds mass. A fine large example of yellow fluorite with accessories from the noted locale.