Fluorite

Unknown Owner

Crystallographically, this is quite a fun miniature Fluorite. From the famed Okorusu mine in Otjiwarongo District, Namibia, it has a the lovely classic internal green colour with purple zones around the edges and looks great with backlighting. However, it is the crystal shape which is the most fun here. Rather than straightforward cubes these crystals have a complex development of stepped faces, but with preferential growth towards the centre of the cubic faces. This has resulted in the formation of cross-like patterns. The main crystal, which reaches 2.7 cm on edge, is incomplete on its reverse and on the edge of a couple of adjoining faces, but displays well from the top. A very intriguing shape for Fluorite and a great colour too.