Green Fluorite · Glassy Cubic Formation

Description

A pale green, translucent Fluorite cluster with modified cubic faces, etched edges and visible step-growth texture.

The colour sits within the translucent crystal, changing from pale mint green to almost clear at some edges. Broad cubic faces show natural etching and stepped growth.

The Xianghualing Mine locality is supplied with the specimen. Its thumbnail box is included in the £45 price.

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.

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 Xianghualing Mine, Hunan 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 4 × 3.8 × 2.5 cm, with a recorded weight of 60 g. Its compact presentation makes it suitable for a boxed mineral collection, where the individual crystals and their association can be appreciated at close range.

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.