The ball like stepped cubo-octahedral Fluorites from Shangbao have become highly desirable and often quite expensive. This is an excellent and unusal specimen with fine display surfaces on front and back, almost a perfect floater. The individual Fluorites reach 2.7 CM and are a little deeper green than seen in the photos. In the square central windows of the crystals the interiors can be clearly seen as mostly glass clear, gemmy. Distinctive specimen from the finds vintage 2005, ex Terry Szenics collection. Very three dimensional and far better in person, this came from a short period when these could be obtained, prior and later specimens are quite different and to my eye not nearly as unique.
Fluorite on Dolomite
stock #6.2-644
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
6.8 x 5.9 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Winter 2016-17
Choice and very esthetic, old type of Fluorite in stepped, modified cubo-octahedral crystals perched on contrasting milky Dolomite. Dark purple phantoms are seen in the center of the main crystals where the glassy "windowpane" face looks into the clear interiors. From vintage 2002 finds at Shangbao, this habit has not been found for several years. In fine condition there is a small clean contact on the back corner of the smaller crystal but no damage.
Fluorite (color-change complex)
stock #5.1-105
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
7.6 x 5.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $430
The sort of fine Fluorite that the Shangbao Mine has become world famous for. From finds in 2006, this habit has been found occasionally since and several large examples are known (and have sold for very high sums). This is simply a very esthetic smaller fluorite (3.3 CM) perched on crystallized dolomite with a few quartz crystals. Excellent condition, the fluorite also has a color change in different lighting from purple to blue. A very desirable and unique habit, in a relatively affordable specimen.
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