Fluorite and Quartz on Adularia

Unknown Owner

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This single glacial area in France has arguably produced the best pink fluorites over time, in a small region of the Alps. Most pink fluorites are matrixless, or clusters, and to achieve a matrix specimen extraction is very difficult and seldom accomplished even in collecting a large pocket (of which there are few). It is still dangerous to collect in these high alpine clefts, and tricky. Whoever extracted this, was a wizard of the art - it has crystallized quartz AND adularia feldspar in association. After cleaning and a few lock-fit repairs, it presents dramatically as one of the finer matrix examples I have seen, particularly in a size and price range that fits with most collectors we know. There are few enough of such pieces out there, and in Europe they go for much more of a premium, as people know firsthand how darned difficult it is to collect and preserve these pieces. In America, few of this quaity are seen, and so I think they are simply less appreciated here than they deserve. Articles can be found in Le Regne Minerale #79 January-February 2008; and in #65 September-October 2005. Photo by Joe Budd. Comes with a custom lucite base. Rotating mineral video available at https://goo.gl/WnVdYr