Fluorite

specimen number:
1115289

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

description:
Beautiful gemmy cubic crystal of fluorite perched up on a small amount of matrix. In super condition.

The Elmwood Mine, located near Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee, is a legendary underground mining operation that was originally discovered in 1969, with commercial zinc production beginning in 1975. Geologically, the deposit is situated within the Central Tennessee Zinc District, where low-temperature hydrothermal fluids circulated through Lower Ordovician carbonate host rocks along the crest of the Cincinnati Arch, depositing rich metal ores within vugs and solution cavities. Mineralogically, the mine achieved world-renowned status for producing some of the finest crystal specimens on Earth, most notably large golden calcite crystals, vibrant purple fluorite, lustrous dark sphalerite, and distinctive bone-white barite spheres. Historically, the mine experienced several periods of closures and reopenings driven by economic shifts before ceasing operations permanently, leaving behind an unmatched legacy for collectors worldwide.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.