Fluorite

Silenka mine is quite an obscure locality in the Primorsky Krai region of far eastern Russia only known to mineral collectors for Fluorite specimens with Quartz, but even those are rare. Two styles of Fluorite crystal are known: sharp octahedra like seen in this specimen; and rounded dodecahedral crystals. Both typically occur on beds of small prismatic Quartz crystals and none of the Fluorite forms are ever especially colourful. This very small cabinet-sized flat plate of Quartz crystals features a very pale grey-green, translucent, well-formed 2 cm wide octahedral Fluorite crystal sat nicely upon the Quartz and with a light dusting of tiny Siderite crystals across on crystal face. This unusual locality piece comes from Arvid Pasto's comprehensive Fluorite Collection.