Fluorite

specimen number:
2242014

location:
Annabel Lee Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
Gorgeous attractive color zoned gemmy lustrous cubic crystals of fluorite to 4.5 cm on edge in a cluster without matrix. Small crystals of chalcopyrite are present as inclusions. Some cleaving along the left side of the piece as shown up close in the video, the prominent crystals are in good condition. Beautiful when backlit.

The Annabel Lee Mine, located in the Harris Creek District of Hardin County, Illinois, was one of the last major underground operations in the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, the mine exploited a high-grade vein system hosted within Mississippian limestones, where hydrothermal fluids deposited minerals along the Spar Mountain and Rock Creek fault zones. The site is famous for producing exceptional fluorite specimens, often characterized by sharp, transparent cubic crystals in vibrant shades of purple, yellow, and occasionally "raspberry" red, frequently found in association with barite and sphalerite. Historically, the Annabel Lee was developed by the Ozark-Mahoning Company, with construction and shaft sinking beginning in the early 1980s. The mine officially opened for production in 1984 and remained a significant source of both acid-grade fluorspar and world-class mineral specimens for over a decade. However, due to declining global prices and competition from international markets, the mine ceased operations in late 1995, marking the end of a major era for American fluorspar mining.

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