Fluorite

specimen number:
8311390

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

description:
A loose floater grouping of light purple gemmy and lustrous fluorite crystals. Naturally crystallized even on the backside, minor sphalerite present. In good condition.

The Elmwood Mine complex, located near Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee, is part of the Central Tennessee Zinc District and stands as one of the most iconic mineral localities in North America. Geologically, the deposit is a Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) occurrence where mineralizing fluids deposited sulfides and carbonates within the brecciated horizons of the Ordovician-aged Knox Group limestone. The complex, which includes the Elmwood, Gordonsville, and Cumberland mines, is world-famous for a mineral suite featuring purple to yellow fluorite, amber scalenohedral calcite, and black sphalerite. These crystals are typically found on a limestone matrix that is often coated with tiny quartz or dolomite crystals. Historically, industrial mining operations began in the late 1960s, with the Elmwood shaft opening in 1969 and full-scale production commencing in the early 1970s. The mines have experienced several periods of closure and reopening due to fluctuating zinc prices, notably shutting down in 2003 before being acquired and restarted by Nyrstar in 2009. While the primary industrial focus remains the extraction of zinc ore, the careful preservation of mineral specimens by miners has ensured that the Elmwood complex remains a premier source of world-class display pieces for the global market.

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