Sphalerite with Calcite, Fluorite - image 1

Sphalerite with Calcite, Fluorite

Unknown Owner

Neat combination specimen with crystallized sphalerite hosting attractive blue crystallized fluorite and crystals of calcite measuring to 5.0 cm in length. In good condition with minimal cleaving present.The Minerva No. 1 Mine, located in Hardin County, Illinois, was one of the major producers in the Illinois Kentucky Fluorspar District, a region well known for its fluorite deposits. Developed in the mid 20th century and operated by the Ozark Mahoning Company, the mine consisted of extensive underground workings that followed mineralized veins through limestone host rock. Fluorite was the primary commodity, mined for use in the steel and chemical industries, and was commonly associated with minerals such as calcite, galena, and sphalerite. The mine became one of the leading sources of fluorspar in the United States during its peak years of operation. As demand declined and economic conditions changed, the mine eventually closed, but it remains an important locality both for its industrial history and for the high quality mineral specimens it produced.