Fluorite: Minerva #1 mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County Illinois USA

Description

Species: Fluorite
Locality: Minerva #1 mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County Illinois USA
Dimensions: 20 x 13.5 x 8.5 cm.

SOLD

A gorgeous group of large, rich deep blue, color-zoned, lustrous fluorite crystals to over 9.5 cm on edge from the Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois USA. The Minerva #1 mine, considered by most collectors to be the preeminent specimen producer in the Southern Illinois Fluorspar District, is noted for these intensely-colored, visually-complex fluorite specimens featuring a combination of colors and different successive fluorite crystal generations that few other localities worldwide can match. This specimen has crystals exhibiting a rich shade of deep blue rare in Illinois fluorite, making for a very aesthetic specimen which requires little backlighting to shine, unlike many of these fluorites seen on the market today. While the corner of one minor crystal is cleaved as seen, and overall the piece is in excellent condition, especially considering the size of the crystals. An increasingly scarce American classic. Annette Slade photo.