Fluorite with Calcite (fluorescent classic)

Item Description

From the literal origin of the word fluorescence, when miners saw these come to glow in sunlight as they exited the mine starting in the early 1800s, this is a significant large and showy display plate of old English fluorite. The classic piece is from the historic Blackdene Mine which operated up until 1987 when it was finally closed. Most specimens of this style came out in the old era, though. Magnificent large cabinet sized Fluorite plate comprised of numerous intergrown crystals with a few sharp blocky well defined individual crystals rising above the base.The Fluorites have that distinctive British look to them with edges of translucent, glassy luster, purple to lavender color transitioning to an opaque, satin luster, mottled white inclusion filled center. The largest cube on the left side measures 2.9 cm across. The piece is complimented by a later partial covering of white crystalline Calcite that flows over half of the specimen. Minor periphery wear is certainly only a modest detraction and expected on this kind of old material - mostly these date to the mid 1800s although a few outliers were found later. The plate has a vivid fluorescence under both short and long wave. These highly sought after classic Fluorite specimens are difficult to find on the market especially of this size and quality. Ex. Kurt Hefendehl Collection.