Gem Yellow Fluorite - rare! (twinned, fluorescent)

Item Description

The Hilton Mine is famous for its specimens of yellow Fluorite, and this small cabinet piece is a fine example for the mine. The most prominent crystal is totally gemmy, and measures 1.3 cm. It is highly lustrous, and there are sharp, small, triangular hillocks on one of the main faces. These features are not often encountered and, based on their shape and orientation, they appear to be the very early stages of penetration-twin development. There is a larger, flat-lying twin to this crystal that is also lustrous and very gemmy. The matrix is covered with smaller, straw-yellow crystals that have frosted cores, and they provide a nice complement to the larger Fluorites. And of course, with the word 'fluorescence' having originated with English Fluorites, the vivid purple fluorescence is exactly what you would hope for and expect. There is some small amount of wear on selected edges and corners, not unexpected for a hard-won Fluorite. It really does not detract from the good aesthetics, especially with the way the main Fluorite is perfectly displayed near the top of the specimen. Recently deaccessed from the Tim Sherburn collection. He purchased it in 2006, from dealer Cal Graeber. It likely came out of the Greenbank and Sutcliffe workings underground in the late 1960s. This is a GEM - rarely seen and of high value.