Detailed information
Species
Quartz, epimorphs after Fluorite
Dimensions
58 x 93 x 32
mm
Weight
93 g
Locality
Dal'negorsk, Kavalerovo Primorskiy Kray Far-Eastern Region, Russia
Condition
No recorded repairs
A fascinating and really unusual epimorphic replacement specimen from the famous mines at Dal'negorsk, Kavalerovo, in Far-Eastern Region, Russia. This area is renowned for exceptional crystals of Fluorite but on this specimen the crystals are gone, but not forgotten, replaced by an external coating of finely crystallized sugary Quartz, as epimorphs. The cubic epimorphs reach 1.9 cm on edge and are in superb condition, forming sculptural interlocking cubic patterns around a thin central plate, or 'leaf' of Quartz. The cubes are hollow, as true epimorphs, as revealed by one open epimorph at one end of the piece, but the sealed cubes have a 'tinny' sound to them when tapped, showing that they are hollow. A few small platy Calcite crystals and a tiny dusting of Pyrite are also present, but it is the magnificent epimorphs for which this specimen excels. Based on when specimens were available from Dal'negorsk, this piece probably dates from the 1990s.
