Calcite with Sphalerite

specimen number:
2102233

location:
Elmwood Complex, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA

description:
A glassy gem lustrous amber colored scalenohedral calcite crystal, this exhibiting twinning, measuring 4.5 cm in height coming off a lustrous black sphalerite crystal matrix. In good condition.

The Elmwood, Gordonsville, and Cumberland mines together form the Elmwood Complex within the Central Tennessee Zinc District in Smith County. Geologically, these mines exploit Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposits found within the Ordovician Knox Group carbonates, where hydrothermal fluids filled large-scale dissolution breccias and solution cavities. The complex is world-renowned for producing aesthetic specimens of honey-colored calcite, purple fluorite, and white barite, along with lustrous black sphalerite crystals. Historically, the Elmwood mine was the first to open in 1975 after the discovery of the ore body in 1969, followed by the Gordonsville mine in 1978 and the Cumberland mine in 1980. These operations were primarily developed for zinc extraction and have seen multiple changes in ownership, including Jersey Miniere Zinc and Nyrstar. While the complex has undergone several temporary shutdowns due to market fluctuations, such as a major suspension between 2004 and 2010, it remains a significant producer of zinc and a premier source for mineral collectors globally.

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