DALLAS, TX.- A large and exceptional cubic Fluorite Specimen hugged by two arms of Baryte accompanied by a painting of the specimen by artist J.D. Miller is expected to bring $200,000+ in Heritage Auctions' Sept. 28 Nature & Science Signature Auction in Dallas. The auction combines exceptional fine mineral finds for collectors, along with rare gemstones, meteorites, fossils, and lapidary art.

"This auction holds a simply stunning array of fine minerals," said James Walker, Director of Fine Mineral at Heritage. "High caliber specimens are in abundance here and there are a number of desirable pieces suitable for every range of enthusiast."

Among the auction's extraordinary specimens is "The Helmet," a Fluorite exhibiting complex growth dynamics due to dissolution of a Baryte (est. $115,000+). A shift in chemistry dissolved the original Baryte "balls" but left the Fluorite crystals to create a helmet-like appearance. An Elbaite Tourmaline specimen nicknamed "The Beer Cans" exists as an exceptional 3-1/2-pound specimen measuring more than 4-1/2 inches high by an unusual 4 inches wide (est. $50,000+).

Leading a selection of lapidary art, a Ruby Chess Set depicting characters from the fairy tale The Frog Prince features work by artist Luis Alberto Quispe (est. $100,000+), and an impressive Trio of Amethyst Macaws on an Albite Base features the work of renowned artist Peter Müller (est. $45,000+). Likewise, a pair of Cockatoos on a Paraiba Tourmaline Base showcases Müller's signature work with two purple birds carved of rare Sugilite (est. $16,000+).

A very fine Hourglass Bi-Color Amethyst Parure consists of 18 well cut bi-color gemstones fashioned by renown master gem cutter Ai Van Pham (est. $70,000+), and highlights more than 68 lots of rare gems in the auction. A 2.05 carat Natural, Sapphire-Blue Paraiba Tourmaline (est. $21,000+) and an 26.23 carat Untreated Deep Blue Tanzanite (est. $20,000+) are among the single gems set to cross the block.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

• "Mickey Mouse," an extremely large Amethyst Geode, from Uruguay (est. $40,000+).

• A 6-1/2 inch-high Beryl var. Aquamarine, from Russia, from an old European collection (est. $40,000+).