A nice example of fluorite on a quartz plate.  Unlike most of the Chinese fluorite on quartz examples you see, these have not been etched out from under a layer of quartz, so the matrix is actually composed of quartz crystals, not the powdery white stuff that you typically see on etched pieces ( like virtually anything from De’An) Why does it matter?  I think it gives more sparkle and makes the pieces more visually appealing.  

 But I realize I started this description talking about the matrix…. The fluorites themselves are beautiful cubo-octahderons with stepped faces, the color is a light purple, though interestingly enough you can see additional color concentrated in a couple phantoms within the crystal, as well as a greenish core than gives them an odd multi-colored effect.  

As with virtually all fluorites, the color varies with lighting-- this one is best under incandescent.