Fluorite

Unknown Owner

A gemmy blue lustrous octahedral crystal of fluorite set up on a small amount of matrix. This is in great condition.The Yaogangxian Mine, located in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China, is an internationally famous tungsten and tin deposit known for its world-class mineral specimens. Geologically, it is a classic granite-hosted hydrothermal vein system associated with the Yaogangxian Mesozoic granitic intrusion. The mineralization occurs as wolframite-bearing quartz veins that cut through both the granite and the surrounding Devonian sedimentary rocks, often resulting in large, open vugs lined with spectacular crystals. Historically, the mine began significant operations in 1914, making it one of the oldest modern industrial mines in China. It has remained a prolific producer of tungsten for over a century, while simultaneously providing the global mineral market with an incredible variety of aesthetic specimens including fluorite, stannite, ferberite, and arsenopyrite. Although large-scale industrial mining continues today, the site is perhaps most celebrated by the scientific community for the exceptional clarity and complex twinning displayed by its diverse mineral suite.