flu00
Fluorite With Sphalerite
Gibraltar Mine, Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico
Cabinet, 15.0 x 12.0 x 7.0 cm
SOLD
A stunning combination piece, among the larger pristine specimens to come from this pocket to my knowledge, with two clusters of GEMMY, TRANSPARENT fluorite flanking a central tower of crystallized sphalerite. The sphalerite is lustrous and glassy. The fluorites are totally clean and transparent - and free of any damage. The fluorite clusters measure 5 and 8 cm verticlaly, and eahc is terminated on the bottom end as well if you look at the undersides. The 3-dimensionality is remarkable! The fluorite on the left is nearly colorless with a faint lavender hue, and the one on the right is nearly colorless with just a faint green pastel hue in some lighting. They are essentially colorless though, and so the geometry is all the more apparent as you lok into each complex cluster. The stark contrast of the lustrous, jet black sphalerite between the two fluorite clusters makes the piece, and provides relief. It is MUCH MUCH better in person! Also, pieces like this are very distinct form earlier finds which had much more prominent galena association and less of the sphalerite. The rich, killer-quality sphalerite that is more common in this pocket is really quite unusual for Naica in any quantity, and with good fluorite in association.