Fluorite (restored)

specimen number:
2242030

location:
Ozark-Mahoning #4 Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
A grouping of beautiful yellow glass luster crystals of fluorite. The specimen has several areas along crystal edges that have been restored. The color and luster on this one are fantastic.

The Ozark-Mahoning No. 4 Mine, located in the Cave-in-Rock District of Hardin County, Illinois, was a significant underground operation within the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, the mine exploited high-grade bedding-replacement deposits within Mississippian-aged limestones, where hydrothermal fluids deposited minerals in layers beneath impermeable shale caps. The site is well-known for producing excellent fluorite specimens, typically featuring cubic crystals in shades of purple and yellow, often found in association with sphalerite and galena. Historically, the mine was a key asset for the Ozark-Mahoning Company, with major industrial mining and quarrying activities occurring from the late 1940s through the 1960s. During its peak years of operation, it served as a vital source of acid-grade fluorspar for the American chemical industry before production shifted to deeper or more expansive shafts in the district.

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