Fluorite (GEM "phantom" crystals) with Calcite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

A gorgeous, three-dimensional display specimen of top quality Fluorite crystals associated with compressed Calcite crystals from the famous Xianghualing Mine. This locality is renowned for producing some of the finest GEM quality Fluorites from any Chinese locality. The crystals on this specimen are mostly cubic in habit, but show graceful stepped octahedral modifications along the edges giving them an interesting mix of glassy smooth faces and with pseudo-etched edges. Inside you can see that the Fluorites (which measure up to 2.8 cm on edge) are WATER CLEAR in areas, and actually show gentle internal "phantoms" when viewed at certain angles. The back of the specimen hosts attractive, gemmy, white / colorless, flattened Calcite rhombs measuring up to 4.5 cm across. The piece is in superb condition and is nearly crystallized all the way around with only one real point of attachment on the back edge. Overall it's a stunning piece with great form and aesthetics. This one is a top notch piece of this desirable material, and would make a great addition to a Fluorite suite, or a collection of Chinese minerals. BETTER IN PERSON, it was incredibly difficult to convey the quality in the photos. Valued at $2,500 for the form, aesthetics and quality. Ex Dr. Steven Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.