Yttrofluorite on Calcite

Purple Yttrofluorite covers a large Calcite scalenohedron and its smaller companions on this unusual piece from the Qinlong Mine in China. A large mocha colored, 8.8 cm Calcite crystal and a few smaller sidecar crystals are heavily dusted with sparkling, dark purple, less than 1 mm Yttrofluorite crystals on this attractive combination specimen from new finds in China in 2021. The Yttrofluorite is concentrated on the top and sides of the piece and less so in the back, almost a directional and preferential coating on the Calcite. Yttrofluorite is a rare yttrium-rich variety of Fluorite where yttrium replaces calcium in the Fluorite structure and this is an exceptional example of the species!