Fluorite

FluoriteFluorite is one of the most variable of all crystalline minerals, occurring in shades of blue, green, purple, red and many other colors corresponding to their physical makeup and conditions when the mineral was formed. The name fluorite comes from its use as a flux, or chemical cleaning agent, in iron smelting and other metallurgy. Pure fluorite is clear, but most specimens have vivid color due to various impurities and are often fluorescent. With a

a crystal occurring in a wide variety of colors and forms

reminiscent of the famed logo of Mercedes Benz

almost unmistakable for any other species

Chrysocolla is in the copper family

The “Benz” part of the name comes from the tip of some calcite crystals which have a clearly defined three-pointed star of pyrite

the mineral contains arsenic and silicate and historically has been used in pyrotechnics as well as a cosmetic since ancient Egyptian times until the safety issues with arsenic in makeup became known

These pieces of cuboidal fluorite crystals in varying shades of dark green occur on a high contrast white-gray matrix

Pipefish are a widespread group of tropical marine and freshwater fish most closely related to the more well-known seahorses

sometimes including growth rings

fine quartz crystals

Amber is the fossilized resinous tree sap from conifer trees

first on the surface and then from the glittering pyrite within