Calcite with Fluorite, Galena

specimen number:
2013502

location:
Hill-Ledford Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
Fine old timer with double terminated crystals of calcite measuring to 8.0 cm in size across the top of matrix with purple cubic crystals of fluorite and cubic crystals of galena. In good condition, a very good combination cabinet sized piece for this old locality.

The Hill-Ledford Mine, situated within the famous Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District in Hardin County, Illinois, was a notable underground operation that targeted high-grade vein deposits. Historically, the mine was most active during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s, when demand for fluorspar as a flux in steelmaking and for chemical manufacturing was at its peak. Geologically, the mine followed mineralized fault zones within Mississippian-aged limestones and sandstones. These deposits formed when hydrothermal fluids rich in fluorine and other elements rose through the earth's crust, precipitating minerals in the cooler rock above. The Hill-Ledford is especially prized by mineralogists for producing exceptional specimens of fluorite, often found in vibrant shades of purple and yellow, frequently associated with galena, sphalerite, and calcite. Although the mine eventually closed as domestic fluorspar production became less competitive against global imports, it remains a significant site in the geological history of the region.

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