Asturias, a small region in the north of Spain, is known for its incredible cubic fluorite crystals in vivid tones of blue and purple. The specimens from La Collada, specifically, are known for deeply saturated shades of indigo, grape, and blue. Its cubes also tend to have textured, matte, beveled edges. The best examples came from the cross gallery of the mine which closed in 1977, making fine-caliber specimens from La Collada irreplaceable.
This is one such example, composed of a cluster of sizable, lustrous, intergrown, cubic crystals. The crystals have saturated, grape-purple outer zones and intense, indigo-blue cores. They have excellent translucency, allowing them to illuminate beautifully. They also have the tell-tale, matte, beveled edges for which the locality is known. Anchoring the presentation is a primary crystal at the ideal orientation for admiration. All of these wonderful characteristics are enhanced by the presence of a stark-white, calcite matrix (host-rock). Between its impressive size, color, and form, it’s a fantastic example from the locality and would make an excellent addition to any collection.