SM21-072
Fluorite with Calcite
Shangbao Mine, Leiyang, Co., Hengyang, Hunan, China
Small Cabinet, 7.2 x 5.7 x 4.0 cm
Ex. Dr. Stephen Smale
$6,500.00 $4,875.00
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This piece features a stunning, complex, purple Fluorite crystal with a deep purple core. The Fluorite is nestled on beautiful, lustrous, white Dolomite crystals and accompanied by a few translucent Calcite crystals. The Fluorite crystal measures 3.3 cm across and is a combination of cube and rhombododecahedron cystal forms. The crystal is a transparent blue-purple, and looking into any of the cube faces, the deep purple core is revealed and the purple color is so intense that that it appears that each of the cube faces are purple, but they aren't! It's a dramatic effect. The saddle-shaped Dolomite crystals have a porcelain-like quality to them and the stark contrast in texture and geometry is appealing. The Dolomites near the Fluorite crystal are larger at 3 to 5 mm across while those that cascade down the front and the right side are between 1 and 4 mm. The trio of Calcite crystals are dominated by a 2.4 cm, doubly-terminated crystal that has a turbid interior with transparent tips that exhibit a very faint honey colored hue. There is a smaller, 1.4 cm sidecar growing of the larger one and then there is a third which is actually a 1.3 cm crystal with a few small companion crystals. There are several small Calcite crystals hidden out of sight behind the Fluorite crystal at its base. This is a very nicely composed and balanced piece from a special find in a small pocket at the Shangbao Mine in 2008. Ex. Steve Smale collection with label.