China is currently the most prolific producer of fluorite specimens in the world. Literally tons of superb material has been brought onto the market in the last several decades. The following describes the general nature of specimens from the chief sources.
One of the earlier sources of fluorite, as far as the Western markets are concerned, is the Shangbao Pyrite Mine near Leiyang in the Hengyang Prefecture of Hunan Province. Typical from here are gemmy cubes with dodecahedral modifications; commonly color zoned colorless to pale purple. Many specimens are frosted on the dodecahedral faces whereas the cube faces remain lustrous. Dolomite and pyrite are common associated minerals.
The largest producer is probably the Xianghualing Polymetallic District, which includes Xianghualing, Dong Po, Xianghuapu, Dongshan, Cashan, and Huangshapin mines, in Linwu County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province. From these mines come frosted green octahedra and beautiful lustrous, gemmy olive-green cubes. Many specimens exhibit associated lenticular rhombic white calcite crystals.
Pale blue-purple to dark purple cubes to several centimeters are typical of the Yaogangxian Mine in Yizhang County, which is also in the Chenzhou Prefecture of Hunan. Specimens from this locality are also identifiable by associated arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, dolomite, ferberite, muscovite, pyrite, quartz, scheelite, and wurtzite.
Light to dark purple or green cubes with irregular dodecahedral modifications, commonly etched out of the enclosing quartz come from various mines in the Dongyang, Shenxing, Wuyi, and Yiwu Counties of Jinhua Prefecture in Zhejiang Province.
Superb sphalerite-purple fluorite-quartz combinations are emerging from the Taolin lead-zinc mine in Linxiang County of Yueyang Prefecture, Hunan Province.
Qinglong in Guizhou Province is currently producing fine specimens exhibiting pale purple, modified cubes associated with bladed to lenticular groups of cream-colored barite…rather reminiscent of some material from Berbes, Spain.
More than just the current supply, the overall quality of most of these specimens will make Chinese fluorite a classic in mineral collecting history. Who would have imagined 20 years ago that Illinois fluorite would become a scarcity? The time to get Chinese fluorite is now.
