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CHINESE FLUORITE COLLECTION of SHANGBAO AND YAOGANGXIAN FINDS from 1997-2009
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A riveting thumbnail specimen, for the stark contrast of the phantoms, and the razor sharp symmetry - blue/purple combos are quite unusual for the mine, too. Actually in person the color is a green-blue shade
Razor-sharp phantom edge lines make these crystals dramatic. Each is about 1.3 cm. The sparkling brown crystals are sharp scheelite octohedra, rare for this locality in association with fluorite.
This nearly 2-cm crystal has an unusual "crackled" effect on the surface when looked at very closely, or in strong light, but looks smoothfaced from far out. It has a rich purple phantom in the middle. The edges are razor-sharp, very dramatic. The matrix of yellow muscovite is uncommon from this mine and contrasts nicely
An exquisite miniature with total transparency to the crystals. In person, you can see that their faces, which are glassy and lustrous, have an unusual slight curvature to them. The color in person is a pale lavender hue. The cluster is 2 cm across, making this a very balanced miniature specimen
This is a translucent/transparent vertical stack of superb, razor-sharp, gem crystals growing one atop the other. The piece is even a floater, contacted or partially rehealed on back, and so technically complete all around. The quality, the clarity, is amazing...you do not expect to see it in a piece of this size, and so much at once on one piece. The piece is pristine save only for edge wear on only one edge, of a bottom crystal in the cluster. In person, this has a subtle color that is blue-green-lavender, and frankly seems to change depending on the lighting. In any case, it IS more colorful, and interesting in person, though the photos convey the geometry well.
This specimen features a single, jewel-like, purple-zoned, cuboctohedral fluorite (1.7 cm across) perched on a dramatic plate of dolomite. Except at the periphery, the dolomites are in good shape. Quartz association is a nice bonus! Overall, a very unique association I have not seen before and with two minerals both of high quality. The dolomites have a porcelain-like look to them. Purple crystals in this pocket were few and far between, it seems. The Chinese asked a huge premium for them, I am told. I have seen only a few amidst the green-blue colors more common in the pocket. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
This is one of my favorites of the lot, for its graceful elegance. The fluorites are perched n a rather large, slightly curving, twinned dolomite crystal clustre. The gemmy, freestanding fluorites have subtle color gradations and phantoms , and are elegantly perched upon the rim of the porcelain dolomite crystals. The three-dimensionality is MUCH more evident in person, and it has "style" in its flowing form. The fluorite is complete on back faces, and the dolomite plate is also free of damage and complete so the whol epiece taken together is a floater! This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination. NOTE: these exhibit the photographic property of metamerism. They change colors from halogen and professional bulbs (more blue) to indoor fluorescent lighting and even natural sunlight (more green). Examples from both are shown here. The change is startling if you do not expect it, and quite pronounced in the right lighting.
Dramatic purple-cored, cuboctohedral fluorites to 2.6 cm across, are perched on a thin, elongated crystal of dolomite, a floater that is complete all around! This is a well-balanced specimen with contrast that is much more evident and 3dimensional in person. Overall, a very unique association I have not seen before and with two minerals both of high quality. The dolomites have a porcelain-like look to them and the form contrasts to the fluorites vrey nicely. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination. NOTE: these exhibit the photographic property of metamerism. They change colors from halogen and professional bulbs (more blue) to indoor fluorescent lighting and even natural sunlight (more green). Examples from both are shown here. The change is startling if you do not expect it, and quite pronounced in the right lighting.
A sharp, gemmy, freestanding 2.2-cm fluorite with subtle color gradations and phantoms is perched upon porcelain dolomite crystals, on this superb miniature. The fluorite is complete in back, but covered by a thin druse of quartz. On the front and sides, it is free and clear of any obstruction and perched remarkably upright. The dolomite plate is also free of damage. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination. NOTE: these exhibit the photographic property of metamerism. They change colors from halogen and professional bulbs (more blue) to indoor fluorescent lighting and even natural sunlight (more green). Examples from both are shown here. The change is startling if you do not expect it, and quite pronounced in the right lighting.
This balloon-like, fat crystal of fluorite measures 4 cm across. It has a deep purple core and blue-green zones around it, leading to very complex, stepped faces on the surface. This is one of the larger cuboctohedral crystals in the find, and of a very high quality because of the color saturation, size, and the complete-all-around aesthetics. The fluorite is perched on, impaled on, a single dolomite crystal and stands upright as shown. The dolomite is complete all around and in fact, even on the bottom - so the whole combination is a floater! This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
Sharp, gemmy, freestanding fluorites to 1.75 cm, with subtle color gradations and phantoms , are perched upon porcelain dolomite crystals, on this really show small cab. The fluorites are completeall around and perched on beautiful, contrasting dolomite crystals. A quartz shooting up next to one fluorite is a welcome accent. This specimen has crystals with particularly deeply colored purple cores in seafoam green cushions of later fluorite around them. It is MUCH more 3-dimensional and colorful in person. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
This is one of the few larger plates of sheer color. This gorgeous and unusually rich example from the pocket has deep, rich color. In halogens it goes blue and in inside fluorescent lighting it goes a rich seafoam green with blue/purple cores. The whole nest of fat fluorites sits on a massive, large dolomite crystal underneath, and the fluorite coating is complete all around. In person, it is much more 3-dimensional than it appears here. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
This is a very choice small cab, one of my favorites, featuring a balloon-like 4 cm fluorite perched snugly atop an elongated dolomite crystal. The fluorite is riveting in its complexity on the surface and internally, hidden within simplicity of overall form. It is transparent despite its thickness, and just glows like a jewel atop the dolomite matrix. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
A large plate of sheer color, this gorgeous and unusually rich example from the pocket has deep, rich color. In halogens it goes blue and in inside fluorescent lighting it goes a rich seafoam green with blue/purple cores. The whole nest of fat fluorites sits on a massive, large dolomite crystal. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
This dramatic piece features a pristine, 3-cm-across fluorite with complicated, subtly layered, green-purple zoning. The crystals atop are both freestanding, pristine, complete, and totally translucent. The dolomite underneath it is very dramatic and 3-dimensional, complementing the fluorite by its very differrent shape and color. It is also a rather LARGE dolomite crystal, too! A sprinkling of small, green-blue fluorites run downs its saddleback, for accent. This is from a new pocket found at the end of 2008, and quietly trickled into Tucson in 2009. It should be remembered as a very distinct style, something different from any we have seen before for the mine or a fluorite combination.
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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