Sphalerite with Celestine

specimen number:
8311275

location:
White Rock Quarry, Clay Center, Ohio, USA

description:
A choice in fine example for the species and locality. Lustrous crystals of sphalerite across the front of matrix with white bladed crystals of Celestine. In good condition.

The White Rock Quarry, located in Clay Center, Ottawa County, Ohio, is a legendary locality famous for producing some of the world's finest fluorite and celestine specimens. Geologically, the quarry is situated in the Silurian-aged Lockport Dolomite, a sedimentary rock formation characterized by numerous vugs and cavities. These openings were created by the dissolution of fossils and later filled by hydrothermal fluids that precipitated minerals like brown fluorite, often in sharp cubic crystals, and transparent to blue bladed celestine. Historically, the site has been an active source of crushed stone and lime since the late 19th century. Large-scale industrial operations accelerated in the early 1900s, and the quarry has been operated by various entities, most notably the Kelley Island Lime and Transport Company and later the Martin Marietta Corporation. While it remains a primary producer of industrial aggregate today, its international reputation was cemented during the mid-20th century when spectacular pockets of iridescent brown fluorite and large celestine crystals were routinely encountered.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.