Discover one of the most distinctive Chifeng fluorite specimens to emerge from Inner Mongolia’s 2023–2024 find. This exceptional piece displays cuboctahedral fluorite crystals rising from radiating clusters of yellow muscovite, creating a visually striking and locality-defining combination.
A key part of what elevates this material is the crystal geometry itself. A cuboctahedron combines both cubic and octahedral faces—six squares and eight triangles arranged in perfect symmetry. While this form is theoretically possible in fluorite, it requires highly stable and unusually balanced growth conditions that are rarely sustained long enough for full expression. Crystallographic sources such as Mindat note that cuboctahedral fluorite is documented but far less common in nature compared to standard cubic or octahedral habits. This scarcity is precisely why examples from this pocket have generated so much interest among collectors who prioritize structural rarity.
Within these crystals, deep-violet corner phantoms echo the external geometry with remarkable precision, capturing earlier growth stages in sharp, angular outlines. These phantoms add depth, dimension, and a sense of layered time not typically seen in fluorite from this region—especially when paired with such an uncommon habit.
The backdrop of radiating yellow muscovite adds architectural contrast and highlights the crisp fluorite edges, giving the piece a balanced and sculptural presence. With the producing zone now exhausted, this material stands as one of the most visually and structurally compelling fluorite finds to emerge from Inner Mongolia in recent years.
Collector Significance
Specimens from this short-lived Chifeng discovery occupy a distinct position in the modern Chinese fluorite landscape. The combination of true cuboctahedral geometry, sharply formed violet phantoms, and a naturally contrasting yellow muscovite matrix represents an alignment of conditions that is both geologically uncommon and unlikely to recur. Because cuboctahedral fluorite forms only when growth parameters remain exceptionally stable over extended periods, these pieces preserve a crystallographic moment that is seldom captured in fluorite. With production now concluded, this material has already transitioned from “new find” to finite, locality-defining fluorite, making high-quality examples increasingly sought after by collectors who value structural rarity, aesthetic coherence, and long-term historical relevance within Chinese mineral collecting.
Please see Additional Info below for video. Specimen will be securely packed, shipped USPS Priority Mail and insured.
Measures approximately 160mm x 113mm x 39mm
Weighs 1.2kg
FREE shipping/insurance to U.S. residents - WE DO NOT OFFER INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Discover one of the most distinctive Chifeng fluorite specimens to emerge from Inner Mongolia’s 2023–2024 find. This exceptional piece displays cuboctahedral fluorite crystals rising from radiating clusters of yellow muscovite, creating a visually striking and locality-defining combination.
A key part of what elevates this material is the crystal geometry itself. A cuboctahedron combines both cubic and octahedral faces—six squares and eight triangles arranged in perfect symmetry. While this form is theoretically possible in fluorite, it requires highly stable and unusually balanced growth conditions that are rarely sustained long enough for full expression. Crystallographic sources such as Mindat note that cuboctahedral fluorite is documented but far less common in nature compared to standard cubic or octahedral habits. This scarcity is precisely why examples from this pocket have generated so much interest among collectors who prioritize structural rarity.
Within these crystals, deep-violet corner phantoms echo the external geometry with remarkable precision, capturing earlier growth stages in sharp, angular outlines. These phantoms add depth, dimension, and a sense of layered time not typically seen in fluorite from this region—especially when paired with such an uncommon habit.
The backdrop of radiating yellow muscovite adds architectural contrast and highlights the crisp fluorite edges, giving the piece a balanced and sculptural presence. With the producing zone now exhausted, this material stands as one of the most visually and structurally compelling fluorite finds to emerge from Inner Mongolia in recent years.
Collector Significance
Specimens from this short-lived Chifeng discovery occupy a distinct position in the modern Chinese fluorite landscape. The combination of true cuboctahedral geometry, sharply formed violet phantoms, and a naturally contrasting yellow muscovite matrix represents an alignment of conditions that is both geologically uncommon and unlikely to recur. Because cuboctahedral fluorite forms only when growth parameters remain exceptionally stable over extended periods, these pieces preserve a crystallographic moment that is seldom captured in fluorite. With production now concluded, this material has already transitioned from “new find” to finite, locality-defining fluorite, making high-quality examples increasingly sought after by collectors who value structural rarity, aesthetic coherence, and long-term historical relevance within Chinese mineral collecting.
Please see Additional Info below for video. Specimen will be securely packed, shipped USPS Priority Mail and insured.
Measures approximately 160mm x 113mm x 39mm
Weighs 1.2kg
FREE shipping/insurance to U.S. residents - WE DO NOT OFFER INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Image 1 of 7
Image 2 of 7
Image 3 of 7
Image 4 of 7
Image 5 of 7
Image 6 of 7
Image 7 of 7