Fluorite with Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite & Calcite

Description

A prominent translucent blue-green Fluorite cube displays stepped growth faces amid white crystal points, golden mineral growth and darker lustrous crystals. The specimen is photographed on an ornate carved display base.

This specimen has sold for £2,750 and remains here as part of my collection archive. The red floral forms below the mineral belong to the decorative display base. Associated mineral identifications are supplied with the specimen.

The cubic habit gives the specimen a strongly geometric character. The visible faces and edges show how separate crystals meet and overlap within the group. Larger faces establish the outline, while smaller growth adds detail between them. The balance between exposed cubes and intergrown areas is a useful feature when comparing this piece with others of the same mineral.

The accompanying Calcite contributes a different crystal habit and surface character to the specimen. Its lighter or more translucent areas provide a contrast with the other recorded growth, allowing their separate outlines to be followed. The association is worth appreciating as a whole, with the arrangement and contact between the minerals adding detail beyond the featured crystals alone.

The accompanying Quartz brings a silicate crystal habit into the association. Its surfaces and crystal outlines contrast with the featured mineral, giving the specimen more than one kind of growth to examine. The way the minerals occupy the same piece is part of its character: the setting retains their natural relationship and adds depth to the overall display.

Fluorite is calcium fluoride and crystallises in the cubic system. Cubes and octahedra are among its familiar forms, but intergrowths, modified faces and changes during growth can produce much more complex outlines. This combination of recognisable geometry and considerable variation makes Fluorite a rewarding mineral to collect by both crystal habit and locality.

Fluorite can be colourless or show a wide range of colours, sometimes within one specimen. Transparency, crystal thickness and illumination influence how those colours appear. Its glassy faces contrast with more textured areas and any accompanying matrix. Colour zoning and fluorescence are separate properties; a particular response under ultraviolet light should only be expected where it has been recorded for the individual piece.

The recorded origin is Xia Yang Mine, Fujian Province, China. Within a collection of Fluorite specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures Large cabinet specimen, with a recorded weight of 2.7 kg. Its scale gives the natural architecture room to be appreciated as a whole, while the finer growth provides detail for closer study.

Fluorite has well-developed cleavage and should be supported by its stable matrix or mount. Avoid pressing on projecting cubes or corners. A secure indoor position allows the natural geometry and colour to be appreciated while keeping the exposed growth protected.