Fluorite

A superb, matrix-free cluster of gem-transparent, mint-green fluorite cubes from the classic Xianghualing Mine. The crystals are predominantly cubic, with subtle {110} modifications producing lightly beveled, frosted edges and attractive stepped-growth faces. Several of the cubes show hoppered development and penetration twinning, adding welcome complexity to the piece. The glassy lustre and excellent internal clarity give the specimen strong visual impact, while there's wear around the outside edges does little to detract from its overall aesthetics. This is fine early material from the first major finds at the locality, prized for its colour, sharpness, and classic Chinese fluorite character.

The Xianghualing Mine is a major skarn-type tin–lead–zinc deposit located about 25 km north of Linwu and roughly 70 km southwest of Chenzhou, within the world-renowned Nanling W–Sn metallogenic belt. Mineralization is associated with highly evolved Jurassic granites and formed through multiple magmatic–hydrothermal stages, with peak tin deposition occurring during cassiterite-rich phases. In the mid-1990s, large quantities of vivid green fluorite from Xianghualing entered the international market, quickly establishing the mine as one of China’s premier fluorite localities. Well-preserved early specimens such as this are now becoming scarce and remain highly desirable examples of classic skarn-related fluorite mineralization.