Fluorite

specimen number:
2242016

location:
Denton Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
A cluster of beautiful blue gemmy cubic fluorite crystals without matrix. These have dark purple color zoned on the interior making this extra attractive. Very minimal micro-damage present, this is in great condition. Very pretty when backlit as shown in the picture and at the end of the video.

The Denton Mine, located in the Harris Creek District of Hardin County, Illinois, was a major producer within the world-renowned Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, the mine exploited a series of high-grade bedding-replacement and vein deposits hosted within Mississippian-aged limestones, where hydrothermal fluids deposited minerals along complex fault systems. The site is legendary for producing exceptional fluorite specimens, often occurring as sharp, transparent cubic crystals in colors ranging from deep purple and lavender to clear and yellow, frequently found in association with sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Historically, the Denton Mine was developed by the Ozark-Mahoning Company, with construction beginning in the late 1970s and full-scale industrial production commencing in 1980. The mine served as a critical source of acid-grade fluorspar for the chemical and steel industries for over a decade. Due to shifting global market conditions and increased competition, the mine ceased its primary operations in early 1994.

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