Fluorite on Galena

specimen number:
2013491

location:
Hill-Ledford Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:

A superb combination piece for this old locality. Translucent purple semi lustrous crystals of fluorite measuring to 2.0 cm in size scattered about a grouping of semi lustrous large cubic crystals of galena. This is classic stuff for this locality. These are becoming more and more difficult to find available on the market today. Very slight cleaving present, overall in very good condition.

The Hill-Ledford Mine, situated within the famous Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District in Hardin County, Illinois, was a notable underground operation that targeted high-grade vein deposits. Historically, the mine was most active during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s, when demand for fluorspar as a flux in steelmaking and for chemical manufacturing was at its peak. Geologically, the mine followed mineralized fault zones within Mississippian-aged limestones and sandstones. These deposits formed when hydrothermal fluids rich in fluorine and other elements rose through the earth's crust, precipitating minerals in the cooler rock above. The Hill-Ledford is especially prized by mineralogists for producing exceptional specimens of fluorite, often found in vibrant shades of purple and yellow, frequently associated with galena, sphalerite, and calcite. Although the mine eventually closed as domestic fluorspar production became less competitive against global imports, it remains a significant site in the geological history of the region.

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