Detailed information
Species
Fluorite, Galena, Baryte
Dimensions
112 x 122 x 70
mm
Weight
1189 g
Locality
Blanchard Mine Bingham, Hansonburg District Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
This superb cabinet-sized display specimen is absolute classic Blanchard mine. Dominated by baby blue cubes of Fluorite, individually to 1 cm on edge but generally in the 6 to 7 mm size range, colour is the main feature here. The Fluorite crystals range from glassy and transparent to matt and translucent with the former dominating slightly. Interspersed between the Fluorite crystals are slightly larger (1.2 cm wide) cubic crystals of dull, grey Galena, most displaying naturally modified corners creating the addition of small triangular faces. Some of the Galena crystals around the periphery of the specimen are cleaved, showing a bright metallic interior, but this does not impact the display area where nearly all of the crystals are pristine - there is one slightly rogue crystal, a little deformed and with two tiny points of contact. Minor Baryte occurs as coarse white blades that are generally out of sight around the edges of the specimen. This is an extremely fine Blanchard mine Fluorite-Galena combo in a rarely seen quality for such a large displayable specimen. Ex Arvid Pasto collection.