Sphalerite with Galena, Fluorite

specimen number:
2013567

location:
Denton Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

description:
A neat combination specimen from the early 1990s. A fluorite crystal is completely covered with sparkling lustrous crystals of galena. Scattered across this are slightly translucent crystals of sphalerite. This is in terrific condition.

The Denton Mine, located in the Cave-in-Rock District of Hardin County, Illinois, is a premier locality within the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, it is a Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposit hosted within Mississippian-aged limestones, specifically the Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis formations. The mineralization occurred when fluorine-rich hydrothermal fluids moved through the regional fault systems, creating large solution cavities. Historically, the mine was operated by the Ozark-Mahoning Company and began production in the late 1970s, quickly becoming one of the most significant producers of acid-grade fluorspar in the United States. It remained a vital industrial site until the mid-1990s, when the decline of the domestic fluorspar industry led to the permanent cessation of mining operations in the district.

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