Quartz w/ Fluorite (old classic) Sensel, Clement, Lemanski Coll.

Item Description

Rare, rich and distinctive large old-time combination from this well-known Cave-in-Rock mine. Sparkly radiating aggregates of quartz crystals are aesthetically accented with a row of lustrous, translucent color-zoned fluorite cubes on the sculptural mounded specimen. The cubes, to 1.7 cm, have light amber interiors, colorful violet edge phantoms and satin lustre stepped-growth faces. Both the fluorite cubes and quartz have dustings of bitumen, that adds contrast. According to economic mineralogist Allen V. Heyl, "The Deardorff mine was THE specimen mine of the 1930's - 1950's. It closed in the early 1960's." Ex Chet Lemanski Collection and acquired in 2001. According to Chet's catalogue, the piece was formerly in the B.E. Clement collection and came from the Eugene Sensel Collection. Sensel purchased in the piece in 1959 for $4.50 (not cheap). The bit of noted modest bruising to a couple of fluorite cubes is certainly only a modest detraction to this important old-time and uncommon large 270-degree combination. Specimens are rarely on the market from the W.L. Davis-Deardorff Mine.