Fluorite on Quartz

$650.00

$40.00 shipping
Seller offers an extended return window of up to 30 days
Ships from USA

Crystal ClassicsFeatured

Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,543 for sale·132 sold

Despite being a long lived and quite productive lead and fluorspar mine under a succession of operators, mineral specimens are rarely seen from Stanhopeburn mine in Weardale. That makes this small cabinet specimen a rarity and its appearance is unusual too, featuring distinctive opaque white pyramidal Quartz crystals overgrown by contrasting deep purple Fluorite cubes. The Quartz crystals form an 'island'-like aggregate - the several tips of pyramidal crystals looking like a small mountain range with snow covered peaks. The white caps of the Milky Quartz form a thin outer layer upon frosted greyish Quartz. The cubic Fluorite crystals overgrow the lower edges of the Quartz crystals and reach up to 2 cm on edge, with a line of four larger intergrown dark purple cubes with wispy frosted interiors on one edge of the specimen and smaller (less than 8 mm), paler purple Fluorite crystals clustered across the other side of the specimen. The largest of the Fluorite crystals has minor chipping to two corners and is missing part of its rear, but presents very well. This unusual northern English Fluorite will surely be of interest to dedicated collectors of British Fluorite. A previous collection number - 15D614 - about which nothing is known, is attached to the base of the specimen.