Barite with Fluorite

specimen number:
1603882

location:
Victory mine, Cave in Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:

Colorless mostly gemmy bladed crystals of barite measuring to 2.5 cm in size very nice across the top of a large translucent purple fluorite crystal grouping. Slight damage present along one of the edges of the fluorite crystal, this still in very good condition for one of these. Crystallized completely all around. When backlit the fluorite crystals are highly translucent. This is shown at the end of the video.

The Victory Mine in southern Illinois was part of the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District in Hardin County, a region long known for production of fluorite and associated lead and zinc minerals. Mining in the area expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as demand grew for fluorspar used in steelmaking and chemical industries. The Victory Mine worked vein type deposits hosted in limestone and was operated intermittently by various companies using underground methods typical of the district. Like many mines in the region, production declined in the late 20th century due to foreign competition and changing markets, and the property is now inactive but remembered for its mineral specimens and role in the districts history.

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