Fluorite Octahedron Crystals
Fluorite from the classic locale Riemvasmaak in the Kakamas district in Northern Cape Province, South Africa has become one of the most sought after Fluorites in the world. It is famous for its fluorescent, transparent octahedral crystals of green fluorite collected in the region. The crystals are mostly octahedral and modified cuboctahedral habits. Besides the rich emerald green color, Fluorite from Riemvasmaak may be blue, purple, orange, yellow or colorless.
Riemvasmaak is a settlement in ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The name means ‘tighten the strap’ or ‘tied with straps’. Riemvasmaak is located near the Orange River, close to the Namibian border. The Orange River area is where this beautiful Fluorite has been found in the billion year old Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Province. There are three zones in the province, but fluorite is only found in the Kakamas zone, which surrounds the Orange River in northwest Northern Cape Province.
Excellent green fluorite specimens on matrix that are normally partly covered with thin quartz sugar like coating appeared on the market in 2004. Similar specimens exist in the 1970s Johannesburg Geology Museum collection. The quartz coating only covers the fluorite. The matrix and quartz crystals remain uncoated. The quartz coatings are normally dissolved with Hydrofluoric acid before they are sold.
Many of these Octahedrons are hand chipped to make them more perfectly shaped. The below Youtube link shows how these octahedrons may be made from block fluorite that has an octahedral structure.
Item # 89BPOF02183351E
Large Octahedral Fluorite Crystal from Riemvasmaak South Africa
$49.00
Here's an excellent green with rainbow tint Octahedral Fluorite Crystal from Riemvasmaak, South Africa. We purchased this direct from a South African Mineral Dealer who shipped this directly to us. This piece is fluorescent under MW and LW Ultraviolet light. UV Photo taken with Nikon Coolpix L1 camera in a dark out box under a MW 312nm, 13W, Way Too Cool UV light.
specimen weighs 5.5 oz or 0.34 lbs (157g) and measures 2.5 x 2.4 x 2.5 inches (6.3 x 6.1 x 6.3cm)
Item # 90BPOF02183351F
Large Octahedral Fluorite Crystal from Riemvasmaak South Africa
$49.00
Here's an excellent clear with a light blue tint Octahedral Fluorite Crystal from Riemvasmaak, South Africa. We purchased this direct from a South African Mineral Dealer who shipped this directly to us. This piece is fluorescent under MW and LW Ultraviolet light. UV Photo taken with Nikon Coolpix L1 camera in a dark out box under a MW 312nm, 13W, Way Too Cool UV light.
specimen weighs 6.7 oz or 0.42 lbs (192g) and measures 2.6 x 2.5 x 2.6 inches (6.8 x 6.5 x 6.6cm)