Fluorite and Sphalerite

The Rosiclare mine at Rosiclare in Hardin County, Illinois, was a Fluorite producing mine, specimens from which are very rarely encountered, certainly here in the UK.  A superb, perfect cube of blackberry-purple Fluorite sits atop a wonderfully crystallised mass of Sphalerite mixed with drusy colourless Quartz crystals.  This magnificent small cabinet specimen is also punctuated by several similar but smaller cubic Fluorite crystals of between 5 and 8 mm on edge.  The prominent crystal has the appearance of a cube of firm, blackberry jelly with busy, geometrically stepped sub-mm cubic faces and a semi-lustrous greasy lustre.  This crystal is translucent and in transmitted light exhibits fantastic colour-zoning in various concentric shades of rich purple.  Hundreds of 2 to 3 mm excellent Sphalerite crystals cover the specimen, these appearing lustrous black, but become gemmy clove-brown once back-lit.  These Sphalerite crystals are interspersed with drusy Quartz, the combination of which makes a superb backdrop to the Fluorite crystals.  A fabulous and classic Illinois Fluorite with excellent Sphalerite and Quartz.