Fluorite with rare rainbow iridescence

Item Description

This is an unusual, rare and visually intriguing specimen of Fluorite from a small discovery in north-central New Mexico. The piece is from the Small Fry Prospect, and we've only had a select few pieces of the material to offer over the years. We start with the interesting botryoidal habit of the Fluorites, which is not unheard of for the species, but rarely seen from anywhere else in New Mexico (which has surprisingly more Fluorite localities than one might realize). Additionally the color is a lovely soft purplish hue, best seen with a bit of backlighting, but when you turn the piece on its side, you can see a bit of a golden shade as well. Lastly, and I think most notably, there is a distinct rainbow iridescence on the piece, which I'm told is due to micro Hematite (or another iron oxide), which is included just below the surface of the Fluorites, creating a beautiful effect that is almost never seen in the species. The combination of the rare locality, unusual habit and the alluring iridescence make this a very desirable specimen for any fan of worldwide Fluorites or minerals of New Mexico.
Ex Dave Stoudt collection.