Fluorite with Quartz inclusions and Chalcopyrite ex Smale

Item Description

A fascinating and classic old Yaogangxian mine fluorite, from the 1990s or early 2000s era, this piece features a single dramatic and perfect crystal perched atop matrix of quartz. Small crystals of Chalcopyrite provides some metallic accents, as well. The fluorite is just under 3 cm on longest edge, unusually rectangular and shaped. Notably, it is perfect pristine, 360 degrees complete all around - as you expect on most specimens from the carefully curated collection of Dr. Steve Smale of Berkeley, who was one of the biggest buyers of Chinese minerals in the time this came out, 20 years or so ago, from his base in Hong Kong. We obtained a large number of Steve's specimens, and have been slowly cleaning and going through this old material. Each one is unique! This piece is notable for the phantoms in the fluorite (both at edges and in a purple core, rotated 45 degrees to the surrounding lavender colored cube); and for small quartz crystals also included within. From the Smale collection.