FLUORITE
Specimen flu-47
$ 85.00Dims: 3.5" x 2.6" x 2.3" (8.9 x 6.6 x 5.8 cm)
Wt: 9.58 oz. (272.0 g)
sub-Rosiclare Level, Hill & Ledford Mine, Ozark-Mahoning County, Illinois, U.S.A.
Seven or eight intergrown cubic Fluorite crystals make up the bulk of this specimen. Whether due to intergrowth or the small amount of breakage on the specimen, none of the crystals are complete. However, they all show excellent cubic form, with well-defined edges and clean, smooth faces that show a dull, vitreous-to-pearly luster. The largest of these cubes measures 2.0 x 1.9 x 1.4" (5.1 x 4.8 x 3.6 cm) and is probably the least complete of the cluster, though it shows almost no human-induced damage. The other crystals are much smaller than this, and do not exceed 0.7" (1.8 cm) in any dimension. As with the other crystals, it is transparent and quite clear, enabling one to see a few subtle phantoms within when examining it under bright light. Deep within the crystal is another, much smaller included Fluorite cube- part of it is protruding from the "incomplete" surface of the crystal. This cube is quite visible through the surface of the larger one, which, incidentally, has a pale blue color with some patches that have a subtle violet shade. Attached to the Fluorites is a cluster that is made up of at least 10 intergrown calcite crystals. They have the form of "composite crystals" that each appear to be made up of many smaller crystals that are aligned with each other and heavily intergrown. It is a very beautiful specimen.