Quick Highlights:
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Size/Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 2.5 inches
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Weight: 286 grams
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Source/Origin: Yindu Mine, Inner Mongolia, China
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Key Features: Four-species association, undamaged barite blades, UV-reactive zones, botryoidal chalcedony crust, stepped cubic fluorite growth
Introduction
This captivating multi-mineral specimen hails from the renowned Yindu Mine in Inner Mongolia and features an extraordinary natural interplay of color, texture, and mineralogy. At its core are deep purple cubic fluorite crystals, showcasing rich internal zoning and classic stepped growth that collectors associate with the finest Chinese fluorite. What sets this piece apart, however, is the rare coexistence of three additional mineral species: creamy barite blades, a yellow-green botryoidal chalcedony overgrowth, and oxidized metallic pyrite or arsenopyrite nestled in pockets and on the reverse.
This piece is more than a mineral specimen—it's a geological story captured in time, offering both academic richness and aesthetic appeal in one compact, high-grade presentation.
Geological Details
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Mineral Composition:
- Fluorite (CaF₂) – Cubic, halide class
- Barite (BaSO₄) – Orthorhombic, sulfate class
- Chalcedony (SiO₂) – Cryptocrystalline quartz, trigonal
- Pyrite/Arsenopyrite (FeS₂ or FeAsS) – Isometric/monoclinic, sulfide class
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Formation Process: Formed in hydrothermal veins, this piece reflects multiple fluid phases with fluorite forming first, followed by silica (chalcedony), barite, and finally sulfides. Minimal alteration post-deposition preserved all four minerals beautifully.
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Notable Features: Four-species association in one unaltered piece with clear zoning, unbroken barite, and preserved metallic inclusions—exceptionally rare for Yindu material.
Aesthetic Appeal
Under daylight, the translucent fluorite exhibits elegant zoning with violet and smoky purples layered inside crisp, geometric cubes. The soft yellow-green chalcedony flows over portions of the crystal face in a grape-like, botryoidal texture, adding organic contrast to the rigid fluorite geometry.
The bladed barite crystals emerge like delicate sails from the matrix, creamy in tone and perfectly intact. Metallic pyrite or arsenopyrite flashes under light, offering striated brilliance that punctuates the more matte chalcedony and fluorite. Under UV, certain fluorite edges fluoresce with crisp blue to violet edges—adding dynamic luminescence for nighttime display.
Metaphysical Properties
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Fluorite: Promotes clarity, mental focus, and energetic purification.
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Chalcedony: Brings calm, gentle energy and nurtures emotional healing.
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Barite: Supports energetic alignment and spiritual grounding.
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Pyrite: Shields from negativity and fosters inner strength and abundance.
Together, this piece becomes an energetic powerhouse—offering grounding, clarity, and protective resonance.
Rarity
Specimens featuring this level of diversity and integrity from the Yindu Mine are seldom seen. While fluorite and barite are more common individually, their coexistence with intact chalcedony and metallic sulfides is exceptionally rare. The intact barite blades, dramatic zoning, and multi-mineral balance make this piece a standout in any collection.
Why You Will Love This
Whether you're a serious mineral collector or a lover of metaphysical beauty, this Yindu fluorite specimen delivers. The contrast of crisp cube geometry with flowing silica textures, rare species combination, and metallic flashes gives this piece an otherworldly presence. It’s not just a mineral—it’s a layered expression of nature’s most intricate processes, frozen in time and fully intact.
Specifications:
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Exact Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 2.5 inches
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Weight: 286 grams
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Finish: Natural matrix with unpolished edges
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Unique Features: UV-reactive fluorite, undamaged barite blades, botryoidal chalcedony overgrowth, preserved sulfide mineral cluster
Collector’s Note
This is a premium-level Chinese specimen with high visual, geological, and market value. Yindu continues to produce fluorite, but pieces of this complexity and preservation are increasingly difficult to source. This one is an investment in both beauty and provenance.
Display Recommendations
- Display on a minimalist stand or wood base to emphasize its geometry.
- Illuminate with a warm spotlight or UV to enhance internal zoning and chalcedony luster.
- Ideal centerpiece for collectors of fluorite, Chinese localities, or four-species combinations.
