Pink Fluorite

Item Description

This is an excellent small cabient-sized specimen of pink fluorite, from a small find at the renowned old Huanzala Mine of Peru in mid-January of 2010. It produced a number of pink octahedral fluorites associated with galena and pyrite, generally smaller crystals. Few crystals reached this size, it seemed. This is a complete-all-around cluster of jewel-like, sparkling fluorite. The color is not just pale pastel pink as with past finds here in the 1980s. The color is vivid, really strong. Also, the reflectiveness of the crystals is enhanced by complex stepped growth effects that have turned one otherwise flat octohedral face into a surface of hundreds of reflective faces, by adding tiny subterminated octohedral crystals all over. The stepped crystal growth of the smaller octohedra nearly smothers the original large octohedal crystals in the center, leaving their sharp, modified tips pocking out - with their own, highly reflective, faces. The piece is contacted on the bottom but complete all around the display face and all sides, and displays nicely from any view. I believe it is somewhat better in person, as the transparency and gemminess is hard to convey in photos here. Valued $2500-3500