Purple Calcite (rare color) with Fluorite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
Small Cabinet, 7.8 x 5.3 x 3.2 cm
Start Time: 07/17/2018 7:15:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/31/2018 7:15:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

An extraordinary rare combination specimen. There is no shortage of Calcite and Fluorite from China, but this particular association is special as it features modified scalenohedral crystals of rare purple / lavender colored Calcites measuring up to 1.7 cm which are sitting on beautiful blue cubic Fluorite crystals up to 1.2 cm on matrix. The piece is in superb condition all around, with only a few minor bruises, but the vast majority of the crystals on the piece are undamaged. It is remarkably rare to find this particular color of Calcite, and THEN to find crystals with FLUORITE on MATRIX is exceptionally rare. I honestly don't think I've had a piece of this particular association, style and quality to offer, and it would make a superb addition to any Calcite or Fluorite collection, or a great piece to add to a Chinese suite. Valued at $3,000 for the beautiful and elusive color of the Calcite, along with the added Fluorite association and the fact that it's a MATRIX specimen. 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.

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