Fluorite with Barite

specimen number:
2092170

location:
Ozark Mahoning #1 Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
Cubic translucent crystals of fluorite to 3.0 cm in size across the top of a crystallized white barite matrix. Damage present as seen.

The Ozark Mahoning No. 1 Mine, located in Hardin County, Illinois, was a significant operation within the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District, a region long known for its fluorite production. Developed in the mid 20th century by the Ozark Mahoning Company, the mine utilized underground methods to extract fluorite from vein deposits hosted in limestone. Fluorite from the mine was primarily used in industrial applications such as steelmaking and chemical processing, and the operation also recovered associated minerals including calcite, galena, and sphalerite. The mine became an important contributor to domestic fluorspar supply during its years of activity. As demand declined and economic conditions shifted, operations eventually ceased, marking the end of another major producer in the district, though the locality remains well known among collectors for its mineral specimens.

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