Fluorite with Ferberite on Quartz (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

Like many mines in China, the Yaogangxian Mine has produced some memorable, fine quality and iconic Fluorite specimens. This specimen is actually from a find in the early 2000s featuring several excellent quality, razor-sharp, lustrous, GEMMY, beautiful soft green color (slightly more blue in sunlight) cubic crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 2.1 cm on edge associated with blocky to prismatic black crystals of Ferberite sitting on a matrix of excellent crystallized white prismatic Quartz. The main Fluorite crystal is virtually water clear, but it's hard to illustrate in the photos. Minor Arsenopyrite and either Calcite or Dolomite can be seen on the reverse side of the specimen.  One of the Quartz crystals actually features a beautiful internal "phantom" (see photo), which is not terribly common from this localit.  To find such an incredibly good sized, robust, sculptural crystal group like this is not that common from the Yaogangxian Mine. Overall, there is VERY little damage, save the underside where the piece was extracted from the pocket. These pieces are now classics, and really good quality for what it is, so if you collect Chinese minerals or worldwide Fluorites, don't miss out on this attractive colorful display specimen. Valued at $3,500. 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.co... ) or on Wikipedia.