Fluorite

specimen number:
2013607

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

description:

Beautiful gemmy sharply color zoned crystals of fluorite to 1.4 cm on edge across the top of a brecciated matrix. In great condition with just slight chipping present on one corner, this is really pretty.

The Elmwood Mine, located in Smith County, Tennessee, is a world-class zinc deposit situated within the Central Tennessee Zinc District. Geologically, it is a Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposit hosted primarily within the Mascot Dolomite of the Lower Ordovician Knox Group. The mineralization occurred when hydrothermal brines migrated through extensive subterranean collapse breccia systems, which provided the large open spaces or vugs necessary for the growth of exceptional crystals. Historically, the mine began operations in the early 1970s and has gained international fame among mineralogists for producing some of the finest crystallized specimens ever discovered. While primarily an industrial source of sphalerite for zinc, the mine is celebrated for its enormous mineral-lined pockets that can reach several meters in size.

For mineral collectors, Elmwood is most famous for its magnificent calcite crystals, which are considered among the finest in the world. These crystals typically exhibit a sharp, elongated scalenohedral habit, often forming double-terminated points with a brilliant glassy luster and colors ranging from pale champagne to a deep honey-amber. They are frequently found in aesthetic association with lustrous purple fluorite cubes, sphalerite, andwhite barite. Elmwood calcites are a centerpiece of major museum displays and remain a definitive standard for the species.

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