Fluorite (cleavage octahedron) with Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
8311139

location:
Southern Illinois Fluorspar District, Illinois, USA

description:
A gorgeous large sharp cleavage octahedral fluorite, the showing both yellow and bluish purple color. Inclusions of chalcopyrite are floating throughout. Beautiful when backlit. The size provided goes from point to point.

Fluorite from southern Illinois is well known for producing clear and colorful cleavage octahedrons. Fluorite has perfect octahedral cleavage, which means the mineral naturally breaks along internal crystal planes to form smooth eight sided shapes. In the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District, especially in Hardin and Pope counties, miners and collectors often split fluorite crystals to reveal these natural octahedrons. The pieces may range in color from purple and blue to yellow or colorless and are valued by collectors for their sharp geometric form and transparency.

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