Rosette Calcite with Pyrite, Fluorite and Muscovite from Yaogangxian Mine
Dimension: 4.5cm x 3.4cm x 2.5cm
Weight: 25g / 125 carat
Locality: Yaogangxian Mine, Yaogangxian W-Sn ore field, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China
A mesmerizing specimen from the world renowned Yaogangxian Mine that was purchased by my father in around 2004-05 in China, and kept until now in his personal Chinese minerals collection of miniatures and small cabinet pieces. This level of Fluorite is just almost impossible to obtain, even at the source now.
Flakes of Rosette Calcite stacked in stalactite exhibit a rare spherical shape which intergrown with brassy cubic Pyrite in a bright gold color. The linear groups of Pyrite crystals display penetration twinning crystal habit and are exceedingly shiny! Rest on a plate of Muscovite with Fluorite cubes in lavender color, this is certainly a piece that you could admire for long in terms of color, complexity and combinations!
Yaogangxian mine produces some of the world's top quality fluorite crystals and the area had already been shut down for mining due to environmental protection. Specimen from this locality are now very sort after by mineral collectors.
Fluorite's Maintenance Advice:
Fluorite is extremely susceptible to sunlight, some colours fade slower than others, but they all fade under sunlight. The effect also happens under normal halogen light. Therefore keep Fluorite in a darker part of the home, away from direct sunlight unless it needs to be cleansed and charged. To cleanse and charge Fluorite, just pop it on a windowsill out of direct sunlight or even on a cloudy day for 10 minutes. If it doesn't feel like that is enough, you can use reiki or sound too.