Fluorite with Quartz Epimorph

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Well-known for Fluorite in many colours, the Fontsante mine at Tanneron in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the south of France was an important fluorspar mine from 1919 to 1987. It is know to have produced a variety of crystal forms too, with small cubic crystals the dominant form, along with massive colour-banded lapidary-grade material and rarer octahedral crystal forms. This cabinet-sized display plate from Fontsante mine is a really oddity, a peculiarity rarely seen from this mine, and indeed anywhere else. Paragenetically, it is a really fascinating specimen, but is showy too, striking that rare balance between complexity and beauty. It has to be noted that the Fluorite here is not gemmy, but its purple colour does stand out against its white and cream associates. A thin bed of white finely crystallized Quartz is punctuated and partially overgrown by extremely well-formed octahedral Fluorite crystals which have been allowed to crystallize perfectly into an open space. Afterwards, a thin layer of finely crystallized cream coloured Quartz has encapsulated the Fluorite crystals preserving their octahedral form. One of the larger Fluorite crystals (2.5 cm on edge) has been re-exposed to show the original purple crystal, but another neighbouring crystals is an octahedral epimorph, showing complete dissolution of the original Fluorite. A truly remarkable specimen from the south of France. Although undamaged the thinner end of the specimen has been stabilized to prevent breakage. Note, it has been suggested that this piece might be from Level 789, Vein 4 at Barlet mine, Langeac, Brioude, Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, but despite detailed research we have not been able to prove this.