Fluorite with Strontianite

Unknown Owner

A grouping of attractive translucent to transparent blue crystals of cubic fluorite, sprays of colorless crystals of strontianite across the top. Some damage present to the fluorite crystals as seen, still a very attractive combination piece.Noted for producing choice strontianite specimens, the Minerva No. 1 Mine in Hardin County, Illinois was one of the major mines in the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District near Cave in Rock. The ore body was discovered around 1940 and the mine was developed with deep underground shafts to extract fluorite and zinc minerals from a large bedding replacement deposit in limestone. At the time it was the deepest operating mine in the district and produced fluorite along with sphalerite and other minerals used in steel and chemical industries.