Fluorite

specimen number:
2013082

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

description:

Attractive rosy purple translucent and lustrous cubic crystals of fluorite to 3.8 cm on edge across a thin quartz crystal covered matrix. Very minimal micro-cleaving present, this is in good condition. Beautiful when backlit as seen in the picture and at the end of the video. This one certainly dates back to pre-1975, if not a lot earlier.

The Hill Ledford Mine, located in Hardin County, Illinois, was part of the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District, a region historically important for its production of fluorite from vein deposits hosted in limestone. Mining activity in the area took place primarily during the mid 20th century, with underground workings developed to follow mineralized zones rich in fluorite and associated minerals such as calcite, galena, and sphalerite. The deposit formed through hydrothermal processes that introduced fluorine rich fluids into fractures within the host rock, creating well defined veins. The Hill Ledford Mine is especially known among collectors for its distinctive fluorite, which often displays a rosy purple color in well formed cubic crystals, sometimes with good transparency and zoning. These specimens formed in open cavities where conditions allowed for slow crystal growth, and they are valued for their color and aesthetic appeal within this classic mining district.

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