"raspberry" Fluorite (Halpern Coll.)

Item Description

This is a lovely cluster of rich purple, transparent to translucent Fluorite cubes from the older Rosiclare district, in the Southern Illinois Fluorspar District, as it has that characteristic "raspberry purple" color I saw on these when I was a teen growing up in the Midwest. Eight sharp cubes up to 2.6 cm on edge with perfect corners comprise this handsome cluster. The centers of the cubes are a slightly lighter, transparent purple with a thick rim of transparent to slightly translucent rich purple with the overall effect creating a glowing interior even with just ambient lighting! The smooth crystal surfaces have a great luster with an ever so slight satin appearance, and the edges of some crystals have barely perceptible and interesting shallow growth hillocks on a close examination. A beautiful Southern Illinois Fluorite, likely from the 1970s or early 1980s. It was in the Bob Reynolds collection before going to Jack Halpern. We are truly honored to present this specimen from another lot of deaccessions from the collection of Jack Halpern of San Francisco (for more info: https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection).