Fluorite

specimen number:
8311400

location:
Lead Hill, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
A loose purple lustrous gemmy cubic crystal of fluorite. This is in good condition.

The Lead Hill area, located near Cave-in-Rock in Hardin County, Illinois, represents a historic and geologically significant portion of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, the site is situated on a prominent structural high where mineralizing hydrothermal fluids moved through the Mississippian-aged St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve Limestones, forming rich bedded-replacement and fissure-vein deposits. The locality is famous for producing exceptional fluorite specimens, often occurring as sharp, transparent to translucent cubes in shades of yellow, purple, and blue, frequently associated with galena, sphalerite, and smithsonite. Historically, mining at Lead Hill dates back to the mid-1800s, with early efforts focused primarily on extracting lead from galena near the surface. Throughout the early to mid-20th century, operations shifted toward fluorspar production, with numerous small mines and adits, such as the Victory and various Sparkle mines, dotting the hillside. While large-scale commercial mining in the immediate Lead Hill area ceased by the latter half of the 20th century, the locality remains legendary among mineralogists for the high-quality specimens recovered during its long history of operation.

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