Yttrofluorite on Calcite with oriented patterns - image 1
Yttrofluorite on Calcite with oriented patterns - image 2

Yttrofluorite on Calcite with oriented patterns

Unknown Owner
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Every now and then, new finds surprise us with something not only better but just plain "different" than what came before. Yttrofluorite used to be simply smudges or specks on a rock, but starting in perhaps 2019, these shocking combination specimens started to come out of the very strange Qinglong area, with purple druses of sparkling yttrofluorite perched on various shapes and styles of calcite. Over a few years, the patterns and combinations changed - some darker or lighter, some calcites bigger or not. This particular style, with the beautiful multi-toned colors of purple draping sharp calcite scalenohedra, has proven to be among the rarest and most beautiful of at least half a dozen styles of association here, and i think it will stand the test of time. It is simply beautiful in a way that makes it look and feel like art, with the subtle color gradients and contrasts. For the size, and aesthetics, a piece of this style without any significant damage is very rare. This would date to earlier finds. It is simply stunning in a showcase as the LED lights really bring out the color and contrast. Nearly perfect all around, it has crystals to just under 4 cm. According to mindat: Yttrofluorite is a variety of fluorite containing an appreciable amount of trivalent yttrium (Y) taking the place of divalent calcium (Ca) cations in the fluorite structure. Many early identifications of yttrofluorite are likely to be purple fluorite without appreciable yttrium. Yttrofluorite is not commonly purple and was originally reported from Hundholmen, Tysfjord, Nordland, Norway.

Product details

SpeciesCalcite
SizeCabinet
Dimensions12.3 x 9.2 x 6.1 cm
Added on10/23/2024

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2024Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
The ArkenstoneNot disclosed

Learn more

Calcite
Mineral guide
Learn about Calcite
diverse shapes, colors, and optical quirks; widely available yet scarce elite pieces from Elmwood and Charcas drive collecting value and display.
Regional guide
Calcite from Qinglong Mine
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