This specimen has a metallic golden brightness to it that looks manmade, brighter and more metallic even than modern Peruvian material can be. It is an old specimen from the collection of the late Dr. Richard Heck. Displayed one way, there is a large twin to the left, and the piece balances standing up like a triangle. Or on its side, the large , complex chalcopyrite twin graces the bottom, and smaller crystals rise above it to form a pagoda of sharp, golden-brassy color. So bright is it, that it leaps out of a case as the most metallic mineral in the Heck collection, amongst sphalerites, pyrites, and other species. It is just vividly colorful and brilliantly lustrous. One of the highlights of this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

A dramatic display specimen from old finds atr Naica, featuring a 4-cm-across, 3-cm-deep fluorite perched atop a pedestal of galena. The crystal is just sitting up there, freely exposed and viewable all around. it is very gemmy, and has a subtle pastel color to it casued by a clear zone around a green core in the center. This crystal, in atypical Naica fashion, is sharply cubic rather than modified by the octohedral form as is common here. And, some edges have a natural rounded look , very weird and rare, to them. One of the special fluorites , and a personal favorite for aesthetics, among many in this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

A very large, pastel green fluorite crystal sits perched on a nest of small , lustrous sphalerites here. Large octos from Naica are much more rare than the cubic forms, and seldom seen in this quality. The crystal measures 3 inches on a line. Actually, is frontal face terminates not in an octohedral point, but in a modified cubic termination (as coming out of the screen). One of the highlights of this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

This jewel-like cluster features brilliantly clustrous, clear fluorites showing cuboctohedral crystals. They are perched on equally sparkling galena, making for a stark contrast that really just leaps out , despite not having the traditional pastel color hues most Naica fluorite has. Minor white calcite acts as an accent, and by its opacity , highlights the separation of individual fluorite crystals. The overall look of this combination piece is just different, and more brilliantly lustrous, than most Naica specimens. It stands on its own merits for quality, and is more than another locality piece. Despite the good photos, it is even better in person. One of the special fluorites among many in this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

This specimen has the deepest green color saturation I have seen in a Naica fluorite, combined with sparkling luster! The crystal is a complex octohedron with many-stepped faces reflecting light, perched up on galena. It is 4 cm across. One of the special fluorites among many in this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

Large octahedrons, to 6 cm across, of lustrous and translucent, light green fluorite are emplaced on lustrous, battleship gray crystals of galena, to 1.5 cm across. For added effect there are crystals of drusy, brassy yellow pyrite scattered about on the fluorites