IML15 Fluorite, Quartz
Chaobuleng, East Ujimqin Banner, Dongwu Qi), Xilin Gol League (Xilinguole Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China 6.4x 1.8x 1.5 cm
6.4x 1.8x 1.5 cm
$200
This was one of the novelties at this year"s Tucson show: cubododecahedral fluorite crystals perched on the quartz points. There were only a few pieces available, and I bought all but one or two.
Cubododecahedral fluorite is extremely rare, in the past several years the only substantial finds have been at Dal"Negorsk (~2004), and then last year in China as bright green crystals associated with a second generation of gray cubic fluorite.
Interesting habit aside, the whimsical arrangement of the blue-black fluorite on the quartz crystals makes these appealing specimens all the same.
These can only be displayed from the front, as there is more etching on the back.