Fluorite & Spessartine

Tongbei again, my specialized locality. This is an interesting specimen found in early 2000s, become one of my core Tongbei miniatures. Dozens of spessartine crystals were crystallized on a bright green octahedron fluorite now are included in a glassy, nearly colorless secondary fluorite make it really remarkable and I have never seen another one like that. The whole piece also in a good condition that fluorite xl well balances the alkali-feldspar matrix. Words are too weak to describe, the piece tells everything.

Beyond the aesthetic, fluorites are not a rare species at Tongbei, or in many A-type granite because of the general fluorine-rich nature. Why they are enriched in F and associate with tectonic extension still unclear but something unique must happened.

Spessartin with Fluorite and Feldspar, 3.6cm

Wushan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Yunxiao Co., Zhangzhou, Fujian, China

Jingnan (Tom) Zhang Coll (Ex, now in a private collection) & Photo