YELLOW & BLUE FLUORITE. ...

Description

YELLOW & BLUE FLUORITE
Minerva No. 1 Mine, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
Back in the 1980's, what appeared to be a never ending, steady flow of colorful, affordable and large Fluorite groups was coming from a mining district centered about Hardin County, Illinois, where it was being mined for the chemical industry. Literal tons of such material were mined and sold to collectors. Today, that river has run dry - the ore zones are mined out. Almost invariably, the only material seen is "B" grade or worse, and usually it is "aesthetically challenged" to be kind. The only time fine material becomes available is when a collection is dispersed. The best of the material mined is conceded to feature a yellow or golden central core overcoated with light blue or purple exterior layers. This specimen not only displays those features but in addition, it has a "phantom layer" of minute Chalcopyrite/Pyrite crystals dusting the interface between the yellow core and the blue outer layers. If that isn't enough, there are spherical hollows where a globular mineral, probably Barite, was dissolved away by natural solutions and some of those cavities, as well as the Fluorite exterior, are sprinkled with little "dog-tooth spar" Calcite twins. The main Fluorite cube measures 4 inches on edge and there are others nearly as large. Overall dimensions are 8¼ x 9 x 4½ inches and it is in excellent condition.
Provenance: Jim & Dawn Minette Collection

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