Fluorite with Calcite

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A complex group of large, blue-purple, translucent to transparent fluorite cubes with off-white calcite crystals in association from old finds in Asturias, Spain - it seems to be a special style found in 1978, we were told. The multiple, sharp, glassy to satin lustered fluorite cubes measure 2 to 5.5 cm across and display excellent and distinct zoning. You can see right into the large, front-facing, dramatic crystal that reveals a central, 1.5 cm purple-blue phantom followed by a 1 cm thick, medium blue zone and then a 1 cm, alternating zoned, mostly purple-blue rim that shows several paper-thin darker zones/layers within it. The entire crystal is quite captivating! There is a companion intergrown with it on top left side that is almost as fascinating that shows the thin zones at the periphery. This crystal has a glassy luster on the front that enables one to look into the crystal, however, the other two exposed faces have a satiny luster. There are several other light to medium blue crystals towards the back of the piece that vary in size from 1 to 2 cm. A small cluster of translucent, whitish, scalenohedral calcite crystal to 2.5 cm decorate the top of the fluorite in back and add to the overall composition. A couple of larger, partial crystals are also present at the very back of the piece. A very attractive Spanish combination piece with great balance, strong presence, and lots of color impact when backlit reasonably. From the well-known collection of Raul Sanabria, specialist for decades in the Minerals of Berbes, and coauthor of the Mineralogical Record book on the subject.