Fluorite with Dolomite and Quartz (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

A lovely small cabinet display specimen from one of the most well-known Fluorite producing localities in China. These pieces featuring this particular style came out in the early to mid 2000s, and are rarely available on the market. There are many good quality, sharp, lustrous, gemmy crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 1.3 cm on edge which are sitting atop a matrix of beige colored Dolomite with minor Quartz crystals. The Fluorite crystals feature a combination of cubic and dodecahedral faces with show distinct purple and colorless "phantom" zoning. Some of the crystals are rather gemmy, so much so that you can see through them to the matrix or additional Fluorites underneath. The underside of the specimen features little white or pale lavender colored Fluorite cubes which might have a bit of included pocket clay. I can see a few nicks, so the piece is not 100% damage free, but it's so showy and eye-catching, that a few imperfections can be forgiven. Valued at $1,400 retail in the inventory for the overall quality of the Fluorites and the fantastic composition of the piece. 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/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.