Fluorite with Chalcopyrite inclusions

Item Description

This is a large, gorgeous Illinois yellow fluorite that made its way to Europe and sat there for decades, even as the mines closed and prices rose; and these evaporated from the USA domestic market. Intense, strong yellow color that is so strong it is almost 'fiery yellow" or metallic, is the top color saturation you can ask for yellow fluorite from Illinois. This depth of color is uncommon and would have come out of only a few pockets in the 1980s or early 1990s. A thin gemmy clear rind of lavender/purple fluorite phantom zoning surrounds the tops of some of the yellow crystals, which reach to just over 4 cm on edge. What is really special here is the unusually rich and visible inclusions, of sharp chalcopyrite crystals WITHIN the fluorite - although seen in other specimens as a minor accent or accessory mineral, this one is extraordinarily rich to the point where it is essentially a combination piece in that each species contributes to make a unique piece of art here. From the old collection of Kurt Hefendehl, and bought during the heyday of production here, this was a special piece we segregated right off the top when acquiring his collection of 5000 specimens. It is nearly pristine, with only one small corner on one crystal that was missing about 4-5 mm of the tip, which we have invisibly restored at the lab (with epoxy). It is hard for photos to convey the luster here, so please see the video. The overall effect is simply gorgeous, sparkling, and contrasting in color.