Fluorite with Galena, Sphalerite - image 1

Fluorite with Galena, Sphalerite

Unknown Owner

An attractive large cabinet combination piece with translucent deep purple sharp crystals of fluorite to 3.2 cm on edge across a crystallized sphalerite matrix with galena. In good condition as seen. This displays nicely all around.The Denton Mine, situated in the Harris Creek District of Hardin County, Illinois, was one of the most productive and technologically advanced fluorspar mines in the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. Geologically, the mine targeted Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) bedded replacement deposits within the Mississippian-aged Spar Mountain Member of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone. The ore bodies consisted of massive layers of high-purity fluorite that replaced the host limestone along structural fractures and bedding planes, often yielding spectacular, large cubic crystals in shades of purple, blue, and yellow, frequently associated with sphalerite, galena, and barite. Historically, the mine was developed and operated by the Ozark-Mahoning Company, with production beginning in 1979 and continuing until the mine was closed and flooded in early 1994. During its tenure, it was a critical source of acid-grade fluorspar for the American chemical industry and is remembered by mineralogists for the exceptional clarity and size of the fluorite specimens recovered from its deep levels.