Fluorite - spherical crystals on Quartz
stock #22.1-257
Namakwa
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
4.4 x 2.6 x 1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $290
Early summer 2023
Fluorite balls on contrasting matrix with smaller gemmy cubes as well. The Fluorites are a deep purple, translucent, and the spheres show well-defined stepping modifications and crystalline structures under magnification. Fluorite balls are known from several localities but it is rare to see the crystal structure that created them, these spheres show very well the modifications that caused these to be round. In excellent condition.
Fluorite with Galena, Chalcopyrite etc
stock #16.1-461-(CN3114)
Denton Mine, Harris Creek Sub District, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
10.4 x 8.8 x 5.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $960
Early summer 2023
From the classic Southern Illinois Fluorite district, this is both a very attractive specimen and with a style quite unusual for Southern Illinois. The Fluorite crystals are especially transparent, light purple-blue and very well zoned. This has a few tiny Galena crystals and gemmy red Sphalerites scattered with the Fluorite. The backside has much more Sphalerite but the Fluorite of the front surface is more impressive and the logical display angle. In unusually fine condition as seen, there is a little outer edge roughness but the core of this piece is in great shape. The lighter overall color with dark purple edge zoning and the stepped frosted areas in the glassy faces is especially uncommon for this famed area. Ex Charles Noll collection, late 1970 vintage.
Fluorite - vivid red Alpine
stock #23.FC-087
Pointe Kurtz, Mt Blanc region, Chamonix, Benneville,
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
5.1 x 4.7 x 1.9 CM (miniature)
price: $3800
Early summer 2023
A rare and super impressive dark raspberry-red Fluorite from the high Alps. This rich color is incredibly rare and this is a fine example that looks much like a Rhodochrosite from a distance. This piece has minimal Quartz matrix and is mostly all Fluorite, it is fully translucent and will glow a deep red-pink with backlighting. These photos are not backlit so they show typical display conditions for this piece. These octahedral crystals are slightly frosted and have a wet look. These are mostly over 1 CM across in a tightly clustered grouping. From the find at Pointe Kurtz above Chamonix (French Alps), very few had this deep color, most were a typical pale pink. In very good condition, even though there are some small typical rough spots as usual in these clefts. As seen in the photos this is minor and not distracting. Overall an excellent display worthy specimen. The Pointe Kurtz is near the summit of Aguille Rouge in the Mt Blanc zone with an elevation of 3680 meters though the Fluorite was found a bit below that height. Collecting in this region is incredibly technical and requires impressive dedication as well as excellent mountaineering skills. Such specimens are the rare rewards.
SOLD Fluorite - zoned crystals, new find
stock #SOLD 23.1-176
Leadhill Mine area, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
5.4 x 4.4 x 3.6 CM (small cabinet/large miniature)
price: $0
Early summer 2023
A sharp and colorful zoned purple Fluorite cluster from the new find at Lead Hill. The Cave-in-Rock area of Southern Illinois has been considered finished as far as good new specimens are concerned. The mines are closed, exhausted and in many cases flooded or collapsed. Although a few specimens have been found in accessible places there has not been much of quality. The recent quarry operations at Lead Hill gave a great surprise recently with some very nice specimens in a few seams. This piece has great luster, good color and ranges from almost clear colorless to a deep purple zoning. The corners and edges on the display side are complete and intact while the outer edge and back are not. The area is of course an American classic locale and these few recent pieces are a welcome new addition to the history.
Fluorite - classic southern Illinois
stock #7.AE-320
Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
10.5 x 7.2 x 3.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $480
Spring 23
Classic Illinois Fluorite with no matrix, mostly a cluster of sharp yellow cubes on massive Fluorite. The crystals are very slightly zoned with thin outer edge lines that are quite subtle. In very good condition overall, sharp edges, corners and good transparency. The color is mostly yellow but with a hint of orange in person. The larger crystals are over 2 CM on edge, and the luster is quite glassy. Specimens of this quality have become quite hard to get at reasonable prices if at all.
Fluorite - pink Alpine
stock #23.FC-083
Lassner-Meissner, Chamonix, Bonneville
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
2.6 x 2.6 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $850
Spring 23
A sharp classic habit French Alpine Fluorite with excellent color and no damage. This crystal grew against a matrix (typical in this type) but it was long ago naturally detached and has since recrystallized on the contact areas. As a result this is a floater, it is crystalized or rehealed on all sides, something very rare from Alpine cleft Fluorites. From a less well-known find years ago in the Mt Blanc Region, this is translucent to transparent, has very good luster and with perfect edges and corners.
Fluorite - classic pink Alpine
stock #23.FC-085
Les Courtes,Chamonix, Bonneville
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
3.5 x 3.3 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2200
Spring 23
A choice and sizable single crystal of well-formed Fluorite having deep pink-red color and lightly stepped faces which gives a frosted texture on some parts. Over all in fine condition, only the underside has some contact/cleaving not seen from the front display. This from the Les Courtes Mountain which lies between the Argentière and the Talèfre Glaciers in the heart of the classic Mont Blanc Fluorite zone. This locality is not so well-known and rarely visited; it is a very demanding technical assent. A few finds of Alpine Quartz put the location on the mineral map but almost no records of Fluorite. Not only an attractive crystal, this is a very rare locality almost never available.
Fluorite on Quartz
stock #23.FC-003
Les Beix Mine, Riom, Puy-de-Dome
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
5 x 4.4 x 2.8 CM (miniature)
price: $660
Spring 23
Fine blue cubes clustered on a contrasting light yellow matrix makes a pleasing contrast. An excellent French Fluorite in excellent condition, the faces of the cubes have a slightly satin luster. The interiors of the cubes are translucent, milky and glow very well when backlit (these photos are not backlit). Les Beix is a modern classic locality with a great reputation for its wide range of Fluorite, the blue being the most sought-after. The mine flooded forever in 1977, these better quality Fluorites have become quite rare on the market.
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