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.
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.
Axinite (Ferroaxinite)
stock #22.1-440
Le Bourg dOisans, Grenoble, Isere
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
7.4 x 4.8 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Fall 22
Classic old specimen of Axinite from the French Isère region at Bourg-d'Oisans. The largest crystals are over 2.5 cm and have some very glassy faces. The matrix is mostly Axinite as well with just a little Quartz. There are smaller crystals, contacts and some broken edges so this is not for perfectionists but it is still a very nice example of this famed locality. Ex John Roger Mitchell collection, his label notes he obtained this in 1983.
Malachite after Azurite - classic locality
stock #12.1-312
Chessy Copper Mines, Chessy-les Mines, Villefranche-sur-Saone, Rhone
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
5.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $360
Fall 22
From the famed old locality of Chessy-les-Mines (France), this is a well-defined pseudomorph. There are also some unaltered small crystals of Azurite and sprays of primary Malachite as well. The matrix is the classic sandy rock with micro bits of Cuprite. The form is distinctive and for knowledgeable collectors this is instantly recognized. The front side in is good condition, the back side is contacted but not visible from the front.
Azurite pseudomorph after Tetrahedrite - classic French
stock #22.1-193
La Guardette, (Giraud) Villard-Notre Dame, Grenoble, Isere
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
3.3 x 3.3 x 2.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $900
Post Tucson 2022
Great form and intense color on this toenail sized pseudo. The original crystals of Tetrahedrite are very distinct, sharp and well-defined. The replacement by royal blue Azurite seems to be fully complete. An ancient locality dating back to the 1700's, the finds at Le Gardette are unique in the mineral world and prized by advanced collectors for good reasons. They are rare, beautiful and unique classics.
Fluorite - French, zoned crystals
stock #21.1-566
Cote Rousse Quarry, Vensat. Riom, Puy-du-Dome
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
4.5 x 4.1 x 1.8 CM (miniature)
price: $270
Post Tucson 2022
A pretty miniature with excellent color, luster and definition. The crystals are mostly a good orange color and show a thin phantom line in contrasting purple. By naked eye this looks to be in fine undamaged condition but magnification shows some very tiny cleaves that need to be mentioned. A less well-known French locality, the Cote Rousse Quarry, this is an choice small example of well-defined Fluorite phantoms.
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