Fluorite with Calcite, Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2013355

location:
Gaskins Mine, Pope Co., Illinois, USA

description:
A cluster of semi lustrous highly translucent bluish to purple cubic fluorite crystals, this hosting a gemmy and lustrous crystal of complex calcite to 3.5 cm in size. This is accepted beautifully with golden crystals of chalcopyrite. Slight damage present upon the calcite crystal, this very minor and I think that this piece is in very good condition. At one time part of the collection of Louis Lafayette. Beautiful when backlit.

The Gaskins Mine in Pope County, Illinois was part of the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District, a region known for fluorite mining during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mine worked vein deposits hosted in limestone and produced fluorite along with associated minerals such as calcite, galena, and sphalerite. Like many mines in the district, it was operated on a modest scale but contributed to the areas important role in supplying fluorspar for industrial use. Today the mine is inactive but is remembered among collectors for mineral specimens from southern Illinois.

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