Fluorite with Baryte and Chalcopyrite Inclusions. Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Cave-in-Rock Mining Sub-District, Hardin...

Description

Fluorite with Baryte and Chalcopyrite Inclusions
Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Cave-in-Rock Mining Sub-District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
25.4 x 24.1 x 7.6 cm (10.0 x 9.5 x 3.0 in)

This massive cluster of Fluorite is an excellent example of a classic combination of colors that occasionally appeared from the Minerva No. 1 Mine, an alluring mix of deep violet and gold. When backlit, this gold color transforms into a glowing neon yellow, shining past the Baryte and Chalcopyrite inclusions deep within the crystals. The Fluorite cubes themselves display an unusual preferential etching or miniaturized growth habit, where the cores of the crystals become tessellated and beautifully textured, and the edges remain smooth and sharp, reflecting light with a satin-sheen luster. From edge to edge, the largest of these crystals reaches an extraordinary 13 cm, and the excellent quality of the Fluorite makes this even more mind blowing. As expected for a Fluorite example of this size, the specimen has some edge restorations, and just one corner is cleaved.

Ex. Mark Pospisil collection.
Ex. Thomas Everitt collection (#TAE-376).

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