Fluorite, Rhodochrosite and Quartz

Item Description

An adorable 1.1 x 1.1 cm, color-zoned gem purple fluorite cube is a highlight of this sculptural, large combination from the famous Wutong Mine of China. The small mine is renowned for giant large flattened rhodochrosite rhombohedrons, to 22 cm. The darker purple edge phantoms on this cube and others really accentuates the piece. The well-placed fluorite crystal cluster in the center, fluorite crystal clusters on the right and left side of the piece plus the striking parallel-growth cluster of flattened, rose red rhodochrosite rhombohedrons dramatically accent the matrix with needle quartz crystals. The quartz-rich matrix is richly peppered with tiny, sparkly, pyrite microcrystals, as a bonus. The fluorites fluoresce purple under LW UV light. See the 2011 Mineralogical Record article in the China-III Special Issue, Vol. 42, No. 6. The piece does have damage, but it remains a very showy and highly representative large fluorite and rhodochrosite specimen from the well-known locale.