Fluorite: Piaotang Mine, Xihuashan ore field, Dayu Co., Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
Fluorite: Piaotang Mine, Xihuashan ore field, Dayu Co., Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
Description
Species: Fluorite
Locality: Piaotang Mine, Xihuashan ore field, Dayu Co., Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
Dimensions: 8 x 7.5 x 7.5 cm.
The Piaotang mine is a major tungsten mine in southern China with similar geology and minerals to the much more famous Yaogangxian mine, but is much less well known by mineral collectors. It does rarely produce superb fluorite specimens, and this is a gorgeous example featuring a sharp undamaged 7 cm. on edge cubic crystal with a striking blue-green color (more blue in person, and definitely not the ‘typical’ green of say the Xianghualing or Xianghuapu mine material). The color is really striking, as is the well-defined internal phantom composed of calcite/aragonite, very visible on one corner of the fluorite, and reminiscent of the rare and sought-after Dalnegorsk Russia fluorites found in the 1990s. Comes with a custom Sunnywood lucite display base. Mark Cross photo.
