GREEN (!) ALPINE (!) Fluorite

The “holy grail” for Alpine Collectors: This is one of the so rare "green" Fluorites from the find in the 70´s at the Gotthard tunnel, Switzerland

What a very rare and killer specimen from the Swiss Alps. A huge lustrous green alpine Fluorite ocathedron crystal sitting on the origina granite matrix.

The outline of this wonderful specimen reminds me of the Mountains where it has been found. In the seventies a 17 km long tunnel has been drilled right through the central St. Gotthard Massiv and is now one of the longest and most important road tunnels of the world. Minerals where hardly of greater concern at that time but fortunately for us a certain amount of the minerals found during the process has been recovered.

One of those selected pieces is this fascinating green fluorite. It is impressively lustrous, clear at the inside and covered in a sparkling layer of white apophyllite at the upper backside that gives the impression of a snow covered mountaintop. This apophyllite is quite typical for tunnel-pieces but otherwise quite rare and well asked for. The bottom of the fluorite is sitting on the original granite matrix and the crystal is in outstandung condition with a high transparency. The piece is in fact a floater and totally pristine all around.

This gorgeous specimen came out in 1972 from the gotthard tunne south in 3.850m depth. Definitly the „holy grail“ for every collector. The best what you can get in our times.

Location: From Gotthard Tunnel, Gotthard, Switzerland

Measures: 9.3 x 10.1 x 10.0 cm in total size

And many thanks to Laszlo Kupi from Finemineralphotography for this fantastic shot! @finemineralphotography