Gallery
Fluorite and Sphalerite
$2,000.00 €1,640 £1,480.00 approx. This specimen is priced in US dollars, all other prices are approximate.
ID:
CC20648
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.