Fluorite

specimen number:
8311327

location:
Yindu Mine, Inner Mongolia, China

description:
A neat cluster of elongated twinned crystals of fluorite without matrix. This is crystallized completely all around with no points of attachment. Attractive when backlit as shown at the end of the video.

The Yindu Mine, located in the Hexigten Banner of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China, is a significant lead-zinc-silver deposit that has recently gained international attention for its remarkable mineral specimens. Geologically, the site is a hydrothermal vein system hosted within a sequence of Permian-aged sedimentary and volcanic rocks that were influenced by Mesozoic magmatic activity. The mineralization occurs as veins and replacement bodies rich in galena and sphalerite, but the locality is most prized by collectors for its extraordinary fluorite. The fluorite found at Yindu typically appears as transparent to translucent cubic crystals, often exhibiting a distinctive "porcelain" luster and a wide range of colors including sea-foam green, vibrant purple, and pale blue, frequently featuring dark phantom inclusions. Historically, while the region has a long record of small-scale mining, the Yindu operation was developed for modern industrial production in the early 21st century. It continues to be an active source of silver and base metals today, while simultaneously providing high-quality fluorite specimens that have become iconic representations of Inner Mongolian mineralogy.

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