Fluorite with Sphalerite

Item Description

An attractive and worthwhile Fluorite and Sphalerite association specimen featuring gemmy, golden cubes of Fluorite measuring up to 3.7 cm, which have a slight etched overgrowth on the surface of a pale lilac hue, which are associated with dark "ruby jack" colored Sphalerite crystals, and no matrix. The piece looks great when backlit, as the Fluorites are rather gemmy, and even the Sphalerites show a bit of color on the edge. This material has largely disappeared from the market, and these pieces will go down as some of the most beloved Fluorites from any US locality. Good shape overall, with very little damage on the display side of the specimen. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".