Fluorite (GEM "phantom" crystals) on Quartz

Item Description

The Yaogangxian Mine is one of the premier localities in China for Fluorite specimens. It was also one of the first localities to really start producing specimens that made their way to the western market when the Chinese mineral "boom" started in the 1990s. This particular specimen dates back to that time period (late 1990s), and is a wonderful example of what was coming out at the time. This small cabinet specimen features gorgeous, GEM quality crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 2.1 cm which show a combination of a glowing blue color on the outer edges and eye-catching purple "cores" sitting aesthetically on prismatic white / colorless Quartz crystal matrix. The square outline of the "phantom" zoning is best seen in the largest Fluorite crystal, but you can see it in some of the smaller Fluorites as well. I love the modified "stepped" corners of the Fluorites, where they are still cubic, but have a repeating "staircase"-like pattern on the edges. There are some rough spots as you can see, but the it's still in good condition overall and sits beautifully on its own without the aid of a base or clay. Approximately retail price would be around $800-$1,000.