Fluorite on Calcite (rare style for the locality)

Item Description

The El Hammam Mine in Morocco has produced a good amount of fine crystallized Fluorites, ranging in many colors of the rainbow. Typically, these specimens are found as Fluorite crystal groups, off matrix, or with minor associations on top of the Fluorites. THIS piece is a rare style for the locality, as the Fluorite crystals are sitting on hefty matrix of silvery/white Calcite, which is incredibly hard to find in my experience with the material. If you look around, you'll see a Fluorite ON Calcite like this is certainly unusual for the El Hammam Mine. The piece was mined in the 1990s, and imported by Brad van Scriver, who sold the piece to Rich Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known collector and mineral dealer from Colorado, who was the namesake for the rare phosphate Kosnarite. The piece features a few sharp, well-formed, bright bluish-green colored, gemmy cubes of Fluorite measuring up to 1.6 cm on edge, which are associated with beautifully contrasting metallic sparkling Pyrite, on the aforementioned Calcite matrix. The piece is in very good shape overall, with no major damage, save the Calcite where it was contacted around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket. I should point out as well that it's not easy to find solitary / isolated Fluorite crystals from this mine, as they are often seen as intergrown clusters of crystals. A fantastic locality specimen with a beautiful color, throw in the fact that it's a display worthy cabinet sized specimen, and you have something significant for any fan of worldwide Fluorites or minerals of Morocco. Valued at $3,000-$3,500 retail.