Fluorite on Quartz

Le Burg Mine, Alban - Le Fraysse area, Tarn, Occitanie, France
Large Cabinet, 16.1 x 10.4 x 5.8 cm
Start Time: 02/28/2019 6:30:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 03/07/2019 6:45:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

The famous Le Burg Mine in France was a contemporary powerhouse, producing some of the finest, largest display specimens of Fluorite from any European locality. Apparently the mine had been known since before the Middle Ages for its Copper content, but operated for approximatley 50 years (closing in 2006) specifically to mine Fluorite. The industrial use of Fluorite is mainly for flux for smelting, and in the production of certain glasses and enamels, but Le Burg produced such fine specimens that they were too beautiful to send to the crusher. This piece is a superb large cabinet display specimen of this classic material featuring several sharp, lustrous, gemmy, beautiful misty green colored cubes of Fluorite measuring up to 4.8 cm which are beautifully intergrown with very sharp, highly lustrous, stubby, pyramidal white Quartz crystals. No matrix to speak of, just Quartz and Fluorite, but that's all you need for a fine piece from Le Burg. At a distance, the Fluorites show a green hue, but if you look closely you can see wonderful "phantom" zoning (especially in the larger crystals) which actually shows a beautiful mix of blue, yellow and green tones. No major damage that I can see, the piece is in great shape and displays beautifully as you can see from the photos. This piece came from Heritage Auctions with a bidding estimate of $6,000 - $8,000 (label included) and another label from Silverado Minerals. A gorgeous piece of this well-known and now hard to find material from France.

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