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A stunning , rather large example of this new find which MUST be the finest examples yet known of botryoidal growth in fluorite....and the WHOLE SPECIMEN is composed of uniformly translucent and beautiful fluorite! The color is saturated throughout, meaning this has huge carving rough value for a start. When backlit, especially at the edges, it glows with an inner color. When not backlit, its still purple like grapes, without need of special lighting. In other words, its not too dark a color. This specimen is completely hemispherical and is contacted only on the bottom where it grew against the matrix, and a small bit of the botto of the piece which is rough (where you would stand it up anyhow on a base i can make for it). This is a new locality, and a mine name is not known at this time (well, not known to me, anyhow). This baby weighs in at about 14 pounds!
A stunning , rather large example of this new find which MUST be the finest examples yet known of botryoidal growth in fluorite....and the WHOLE SPECIMEN is composed of uniformly translucent and beautiful fluorite! The color is saturated throughout, meaning this has huge carving rough value for a start. When backlit, especially at the edges, it glows with an inner color. When not backlit, its still purple like grapes, without need of special lighting. In other words, its not too dark a color. This specimen is completely hemispherical and is contacted only on the bottom where it grew against the matrix. It is complete all aroun dthe sides as you see here, and has interesting bubbly outgrowths which make it look like a bike racer's helmet. But also kinda still like a turtle, what can i say? This is a new locality, and a mine name is not known at this time (well, not known to me, anyhow). This baby weighs in at about 12 pounds!
A dramatic 3.5 cm crystal sits atop this matrix specimen, and it is so sharp it looks carved. The crystal is pristine and complete on the front, contacted only on the backside of the specimen. The green major crystal sits atop multihued smaller crystals that cover the matrix, and they show both purple and green depending on the angle of the light. I have NEVER seen a Yaoganxian specimen quite like this, with the not-so-subtle green phantom and the combination of gemminess and lustre. It stands out amongst a huge crowd of Yaoganxian fluorites, many of which can cost considerably more money. Obtained in trade from Marshall and Charlotte Sussman, and I love it!
A beautiful example of this new habit from China, with raspberry-purple crystals of high translucency and vivid color saturation. When backlit even minimally (as shown), it practically "glows" . Many specimens are massive, but this plate is thin enough that much more light than usual comes through the quartz to highlight the fluorites as well (it has been carefully sawn and then roughed up again on the back, to do this).
A beautiful large specimen with multihued purpley-green octohedra to 3.5 cm on edge, perched in a quarrtz matrix plate. These practically "glow" when backlit with even the most minimal light. Small pieces and large pieces with dull crystals are common, but large display pieces of this quality are not.
This exceptional 3-dimensional specimen is simply impressive. The fluorites a re equant octohedra, and leap off the matrix at you. You could not ask for more stark contrast than this between the deep purple, translucent octos; and the minutely crysatllized snow-white quartz matrix. The larger crystals are 3 inches across! In person, this is very much more 3-dimensional, as well, compared to the photos. I have seen over the last 4 years or so a steady trickle of fluorite from this locality. HOWEVER, the good ones are few, very few - and large octohedra are rare. This is one of the best, I am sure of it. It is dramatic, purple-on-white, big, and pristine. It WILL impress, in person.
These specimens were one of the few "new sensations" at the Tucson Show of 2005, especially as new finds were so scarce that year in general. We EXPECTED to see more at Denver 2005 but there were none to be had...they have NOT FOUND ANOTHER LARGE POCKET SINCE! This is a very large crystal for the find , and exceptionally rich with purple-blue, sharp fluorite crystals included inside. It is almost doubly-terminated, with a slight bit missing a tthe bottom and the smallest of dings atop (you have to really look to see it...no visual impact). This piece has the most inclusions per unit area of any I have had, I would say, and thus the best overall impact and color appeal. The fluorites grew on the face of the quartz crystals at some point during their development in the pocket, and were later engulfed as the quartz continued its growth. These are certainly the most interesting fluorite inclusions we have seen from any recent find, and this particular piece is a stellar example.
ex. Dr. Steve Smale
I traded this from Steve recently because I always loved the juxtaposition of crystals stacked one upon the other. True, since the Rainbow Pocket was found in one of the earliest strikes at the reopened Sweet Home in 1992, there have been gemmier and more bright crystals. Nevertheless, this pocket stands as a historic find and a unique style. From this pocket, many floaters were recovered, coated with minute fluorite crystals. According to Steve, who got to pick early on, this was the most elegant and aesthetic piece for his tastes fromn the find. This is NOT repaired . It is complete, undamaged, and a floater! What are the odds? While not having surface lustre of a high order, the crystals here (as typical for the pocket) have a juicy cherry-red color, just spectacular when backlit. This is , again, one of the earliest fine specimens from the reopening of the Sweet Home in the early 90s, and to my eye remains a uniquely recognizable specimen even amongst all that came out later of different styles.
ex. Francis and Patricia Benjamin
This is from a rare and highly desirable locality, with unique and distinct style. Two, pastel pink, gemmy, heavily modified fluorite crystals to 1.5 cm across are aesthetically perched on lustrous, sugary adularia, a variety of orthoclase. Although not as deeply colored as some of its alpine cousins, the transparency and complexity of the crystals is absolutely superb. This pocket, or this style rather from this region, is notable for its difference from the common sort of Alpine fluorite. I have seen such pieces at Munich for twice the price, in Euros yet, as they seem overly valued to me in the European market.
ex. Dr. Eugene Meieran ex. Eric Asselborn
Fluorite crystals to 1.4 cm in size surmount a cluster of smoky quartz, one doubly-terminated, in this supremely good small cab from the famous 1991 find at Point Kurtz. This is one of a few select specimens at the top of the find for quality of aesthetics, form, and condition. Eric Asselborn purchased the lot, and this piece was sold soon after to Gene Meieran with whom it remained for some time. It is one of the better pieces for balanced fluorite richly coating the smokies, that I have seen for sale...but I also have their word on it from seeing the whole lot in context. There is no damage of note, and the piece is complete all around. It "glows" with color, when well lit. The smokies under the fluorite are also quite gemmy. This pocket has remained the pinnacle of Alpine fluorite collecting for 16 years now, and a specimen of this calibre should remain both a good investment and a desirable thing to own for the future, I would think. They are, I admit, pricey...but then this goes with the territory because they are so desirable and hard to obtain today, coming out only from the collections where they have been generally for a decade or more. I bought this back recently from a collector I sold it to after trading for it from Gene Meieran around 2001, and I would buy it back a second time too, even at a high price, because one simply cannot get them any other way and to me they stand out so dramatically from teh crowd of other Alpine fluorites as THE best pocket for many tastes.
From a venerable old American quarry, this specimen of fluorite on matrix, exhibits a light golden hue, and transparency, along with super aesthetics. The two crystals are intergrown, but not twinned. There is minor peripheral damage, however, it does not diminish the overall beauty of the piece.
Fluorite from Nevada is not common, so this lustrous group of grayish-purple crystals is a pleasant surprise. There is good luster and the largest crystal measures 1.5 cm across.
Twenty or so years ago, this deposit produced some of the best botryoidal fluorite in the world. To this day, they remain a classic as botryoidal fluorite is still quite rare. This specimen has a deep lilac color and some translucence. The largest sphere is about 1 cm across.
This specimen is from the SCHEELITE locality! NOT from Yaoganxgian or one of the common fluorite mines! It is a real sleeper in that you might miss it , were I not to point this out. It is the single largest and best cubic crystal of fluorite I have personally seen from this mine, more famous for scheelite and cassiterite but where fluorite is quite rare. This see-through, transparent, complete cube measures 6 x 5 x 4.5 cm in size and is really MUCH better in person than I can convey in pictures. It lokos like nothing so much as a 3-inch wax cube, sitting on hot muscovite waiting to melt!
ex. Eric Asselborn ex. Laura Thompson ex. Stevia Thompson
A totally gemmy 1.7 cm crystal of the quality found long ago, certainly in the early 1800s as this is characteristic of a specimen from the era. MUCH BETTER in person, this is an outstanding thumbnail example that is not just a small fluorite, but rather a fine specimen that leaps out at you , even if it happens to be small. Much better than the average little fluorite thumb you might see, in other words. This was part of a small collection of variously colored fluorite thumbs and toenails assembled by Eric Asselborn over the years.
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