Fluorite with Galena, Chalcopyrite etc
stock #16.1-461-(CN3114)
Denton Mine, Harris Creek Sub District, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
10.4 x 8.8 x 5.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $960
Early summer 2023
From the classic Southern Illinois Fluorite district, this is both a very attractive specimen and with a style quite unusual for Southern Illinois. The Fluorite crystals are especially transparent, light purple-blue and very well zoned. This has a few tiny Galena crystals and gemmy red Sphalerites scattered with the Fluorite. The backside has much more Sphalerite but the Fluorite of the front surface is more impressive and the logical display angle. In unusually fine condition as seen, there is a little outer edge roughness but the core of this piece is in great shape. The lighter overall color with dark purple edge zoning and the stepped frosted areas in the glassy faces is especially uncommon for this famed area. Ex Charles Noll collection, late 1970 vintage.
Calcite with Fluorite
stock #20.1-256-(1080)
Denton Mine, Harris Creek Sub District, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
6.8 x 4.9 x 3.8 (cabinet)
price: $330
new year 2021
A southern Illinois classic, a mass of transparent, gemmy Calcite crystals are the sparkling background to some small purple to blue Fluorites. The bright luster of these Calcites are hard to appreciate in photos but in person the visual impact is strong. This choice Denton Mine specimen is from the collection of Les Hitchings which he obtained in 1992, from the last period of mining there which produced some exceptional Calcites.
Remarkable dark Fluorite crystals that have a bright yellow core that is only seen inside the holes left by former Barite rosettes. These Barite holes have a distinctive structure, these are a waxy cone shaped void that shows the detail of the long-gone Barite crystals. These Barite holes are well known from the region but the color zoning on this one is unusual and is especially impressive when backlit. The Fluorite is overall dark, sharp and lustrous with some edge scuffs, so perhaps not for strict perfectionists. The main interest is of course the Barite holes up to 1 CM across that penetrate the inner bright yellow center of the Fluorite. In Some light this looks like a dark purple but most of the color is really the exterior coating of Bitumen which is nearer to a black color.
Fluorite with inclusions of Chalcopyrite
stock #AX-18-153
Denton Mine, Harris Creek Sub District, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
7.5 x 6.8 x4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
A sharp multi-color pastel Fluorite with good clarity and phantoms. The crystals show excellent growth patterns and have sharp crystals of golden Chalcopyrite included inside. This looks fantastic with good lighting. A classic locale, the Denton Mine once produced a lot of good Fluorites, but is now gone forever. Some color changing based on light source, the core color is a pale yellow with blue to purple outer phantoms.
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