FLUORITE on SPHALERITE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

Delicate lilac cubic Fluorite crystals scattered over a matrix of jet-black, crystallised Sphalerite make a beautiful cabinet specimen from Elmwood mine at Carthage in Tennessee, USA. Elmwood is one of the classic localities for Fluorite and these gorgeous transparent to translucent cubic crystals are so characteristic of this mine. The largest cube measures 1.7 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm and displays simple yet splendid zoning with deeper lilac edges and faces grading to much paler, almost colourless centres. Several much smaller Fluorite cubes are scattered over the Sphalerite which forms highly lustrous, complex metallic crystals to about 1 cm. Some of these a partly translucent through which shades of red and golden-brown light are transmitted.