A large, colorful Swiss alpine specimen featuring several well-crystallized species in scattered clusters. The centerpiece is the pink octahedral Fluorites many of which are gem clear. In addition, there are a few small colorless Fluorites and a few areas of dark nearly black Fluorite which is coated by and included with Chlorite. The specimen is also multi-colored fluorescent and amazing when examined under good magnification. Gem clear Quartz crystals show typical alpine habits and sharp transparent Epidote and Adularia crystals add contrast. Very pretty in person this looks even better as you look closer.
Fluorite (pink and clear) on Quartz
stock #13.1-404
Val Cristallina (Cristallina Valley)
Grischun (Grisons),
Switzerland
4.6 x 3.4 x 1.5 CM (miniature)
price: $450
Spring 2014
A rare old piece (pre-war) from a classic Alpine cleft locale, this is rather different from more recent finds. The matrix is a series of parallel quartz crystals covered with a druse of sparkling clear Flourite octahedra that are included by greenish Chlorite. There are six bigger pale pink Fluorites scattered on the face, the largest 1.4 CM. Undamaged by naked eye, even at 20x magnification there is almost no damage to find. A relatively affordable and rather different Alpine Fluorite specimen.