First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011 Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012 Click here to view Best Minerals Fluorite, Missouri to Wyoming and here to view Best Minerals Fluorite and here for Best Minerals F and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles. Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities? Fluorite United States CaF2 Cubic Fluorite, Minerva No. 1 Mine,Cave-in-Rock Illinois, USA 8.1cm tall© Rob Lavinsky There are something more than 3800 fluorite localities for the United States currently listed on mindat (20120) though few of them produce specimens of interest to collectors. Though a number of the specimen localities produce outstanding fluorite specimens it is generally agreed that the best fluorites in the USA are found in Southern Illinois, which has produced many tons of fine specimens. These are usually labeled Cave in Rock, Illinois or Hardin Co., Illinois. Many fluorite specimens have been produced from various Mississippi Valley type deposits in sedimentary rocks. Especially those found in the zinc mines near Elmwood Tennessee. Other fine specimens have been produced from various limestone and dolomite quarries throughout the midwestern region of the USA. Fluorite is found in pegmatites from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Significant fluorite from hydrothermal veins has been found in New Mexico, Colorado, Montana and Utah, although the better specimen producing states are Colorado and New Mexico. Most of the other states have localities where fluorite is found, although many of these are only of interest to people collecting specimens from a particular state The southern Illinois material has produced faceted stones, while the Bingham New Mexico blue fluorite has been used for cabochons (neither of which are well suited for jewelry because of the softness of the mineral. [David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012 Fluorite USA Alaska, Sitka Borough, Kuiu Island Fluorite 2.5cm wide© A&M Fluorite on Quartz 3.8cm tall© A&M Fluorite USA Alaska, Sitka Borough, Kuiu Island, Rocky Pass Fluorite 6cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite 2.5cm wide© PMB Fluorite on Quartz 5.1cm tall© Rob LavinskyFluorite 2.5cm© Fluorite 3.7cm wide© The fluorite from this locality is found in veins that intrude the Cornwallis limestone on the northern end of Kuiu Island in southeast Alaska. The deposit was discovered by Gary McWilliams in 1984. The veins are composed mainly of quartz and secondarily of fluorite. The locality was discovered in 1984 by Gary McWilliams who had a boat and would take collectors collecting at various localities off the coast of Alaska. Fluorite USA Alaska, Wrangell-Petersburg Borough, Chatham Strait, Zarembo Island Fluorite 5cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite ~6cm wide© DM 06 Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide© Fluorite USA Arizona Arizona has had only minor commercial production of fluorite, less than 50,000 tons. In pegmatites to the NE of Congress Junction, Arizona, there are dodecahedral crystals to three to four feet across though hardly of specimen quality. Fluorite USA Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Tombstone Wulfenite & Wulfenite 3.7cm wide© Weinrich The specimen above is probably from the Toughnut Mine. These are rare creatures and you will rarely see one in a collection. Fluorite USA Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Empire Mine Fluorite 12cm wide© Rob Lavinsky UV image of specimen on left© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Tombstone, Toughnut Mine (Tough Nut Mine; Northwest Mine; Hoodoo stopes; Tombstone group) Fluorite & Wulfenite 7.5cm tall© fabreminerals.com Fluorite USA Arizona, Graham Co., Aravaipa District, Santa Teresa Mts. Fluorite on Quartz 6.1cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite on Quartz 4.1cm tall© Weinrich Fluorite USA Arizona, Graham Co., Aravaipa District, Santa Teresa Mts, Klondyke, Ten Strike Mine (Tenstrike Mine; Ten Strike group; Stone and Dempsey; Klondyke Mining Co.; Lone Pine Lead; Cassidy and Rubal) Fluorite & Quartz 2.6cm wide© Fluorite on Quartz 10.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide© 2001 John H. Betts Fluorite & Quartz 6cm tall© Fluorite USA Arizona, La Paz Co., Buckskin Mts Fluorite & Calcite? 5.4cm wide© A&M Fluorite 3.3cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Arizona, La Paz Co., Buckskin Mts, Heson Mine (Hesson Mine) Fluorite ~8cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite & Cerussite 10.3cm wide© Jasun McAvoy Fluorite 3.4cm wide© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite USA Arizona, La Paz Co., Trigo Mts, Trigo Mountains District (Cibola District) Fluorite & Quartz 6cm wide© PM 2008 Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Union Pass District), Oatman District (San Francisco District) Fluorite & Quartz 4.8cm wide© Joseph A. Freilich Fluorite & Quartz ~8cm wide© Joseph A. Freilich Fluorite on Quartz 5cm wide Fluorite & Quartz 9.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, San Francisco District, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Homestake-Jack Pot Mine (Homestake prospect; Jack Pot Mine; Homestake Mine; Lucky Budge group) Fluorite on Quartz 8.7 cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide© Michael Shaw Fluorite 3.2cm wide© Eric Graff Fluorite on Quartz 5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Quartz 6.3cm wide© Eric Graff UV image of specimen on left© Eric Graff Fluorite on Quartz 4.4cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), San Francisco District, Oatman, Moss Mine, Moss vein Fluorite 6.8cm© A&M Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Silver Creek area, Skinner lode Fluorite 3.5cm wide© Joseph A. Freilich, LLC Fluorite 7.5cm wide© Joseph A. Freilich, LLC Fluorite 7.5cm wide© J.K. Nash, Ph.D. Fluorite 4.3cm wide© PMB Fluorite ~7cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite ~3cm tall© Joseph A. Freilich Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Union Pass District (Katherine District), Katherine Mine (Catherine Mine; Illinois Mine; Mohawk Extension Patented Mine) Fluorite 7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Cerbat Mts (Cerbat Range), White Hills, Gold Basin District, Buckskin Mine (Golconda patented claim 3027) Fluorite on Quartz 7.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Hardy Mine (Hardy vein; Miller Mine; Parsons Mine; Keynote Mine) Fluorite on Quartz 4.5cm wide© Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Homestake claims Fluorite 7cm wide© Fluorite USA Arizona, Mohave Co., Oregon Mine Fluorite on Quartz 5.4cm© fabreminerals.com Fluorite USA Arizona, Pima Co., Sierrita Mts, Papago District (Sierrita District), Black Dike Mine (Black Dike group; Black Dike claim; Black Dike deposit; Black Dyke Mine; Big Dike; Bobson group; Big Dike Apex & Ajax) Fluorite 12cm wide Fluorite USA Arizona, Pinal Co., Mammoth District, Tiger, St. Anthony deposit, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine) Fluorite 3.5cm tall© Michael D. Cline Fluorite Arizona Arizona, Yavapai Co., Eureka District, Bagdad Fluorite 2.8cm tall© PMB Fluorite USA Arizona, Yuma Co., Castle Dome Mts, Castle Dome District Fluorite 5.3cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 4.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 10cm wide There were never many specimens of fluorite from this locality and those that were saved were collected by field collectors from the mines after they were closed. A few of them were associated with nice small wulfenite crystals a millimeter or two across. Fluorite USA California, Los Angeles Co., San Gabriel Mts, Azusa (Dalton), Felix Mine Fluorite on Quartz 8cm wide© Joseph PolitykaFluorite 5.8cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite 5.3cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 5.4cm wide© TVM Fluorite 5.2cm wide© fabreminerals.com Fluorite ~8cm wide© Fluorite 9cm wide© WWB back side of left© WWB Fluorite 5.8cm wide© Fluorite 6.5cm wide© A&M.Fluorite 9.2cm wide© J.Scovil Fluorite 7.2cm wide© A&M Fluorite 8.7cm wide© Rob Lavinsky The Felix mine should probably be more accurately called the Felix Prospect. It is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains slightly above the foothill community of Azusa, California. Even in the 70s it was difficult to find any sign of mine or prospect workings. For years it has been a minor local locality that was popular for field trips by local collectors and gem and mineral societies. You would just start digging away the vegetation and dirt in the hillside into the decomposed granite and if you were lucky you would find a vein that would produce fluorite crystals, though they were not sharp and shiny or very large, you usually managed to come away with a flat or two of very modest specimens. They were all iron stained and the ones pictures above are some of the champions for the deposit. You could collect there many times and not find specimens as nice as those pictured here. [Rock Currier 2012] Fluorite USA California, Sierra Co., Sierra Co., Chloride Placer Mine (Small Fry # 3; Golden Slide) Fluorite 8.3cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, USA Colorado has produced fluorite in the amount of 2.5 million tons. The major production areas were the Jamestown, Brown's Canyon, Northgate and Wagon Wheel districts. The last significant commercial production was from North Park (shut down in 1973). The Jamestown specimens are rapidly bleached by sunlight and also usually are thermoluminescent. As far as fluorite specimens go the best ones come from the pegmatites and miarolitic cavities often associated with amazonite, smoky quartz and rarely with topaz and aquamarine. [David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012] Fluorite USA Colorado, Chaffee Co., Mt Antero Fluorite & Phenacite 10.1cm tall© Ward Fluorite & Quartz 2.2cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 5.5cm wide © fabreminerals.comFluorite & Quartz 2.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 12.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 3.4cm wide© Dan Weinrich Fluorite 2.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 2.2cm tall© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite & Phenacite ~3.5cm wide© Fluorite ~6cm wide© Crystals from the pegmatites and miarolitic cavities range in size from 1mm to 20cm. The colors include purple, green and clear octahedrons and cubes. In 1982 about 100 light green to violet fluorite specimens were collected from a Mt Antero pegmatite. Fluorite USA Colorado, Chaffee Co., Mt White Fluorite 8.1cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Clear Creek Co., Dailey District (Jones Pass District), Urad mine Fluorite 11cm wide© Fluorite USA Colorado, Clear Creek Co., Georgetown District Fluorite 3cm wide© Paul W. Kendall Fluorite USA Colorado, El Paso Co., Crystal Park Fluorite 3cm tall© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite USA Colorado, El Paso Co., Pikes Peak Fluorite on Microcline 4cm wide© Martin Gruell Fluorite USA Colorado, Fremont Co., Canon City District Fluorite 8.5cm tall© Christian Bracke Fluorite 6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky The "mine" produced botyroidal groups up to 20cm across in purplish to bluish shades of gray (specimens have a tendency to lose water and turn opaque). Several hundred specimens were found by Don Knowles in the 1980's. The specimens occurred in vugs up to 13 feet in size. Fluorite USA Colorado, Lake Co., Climax District, Climax, Climax Mine (Climax Open Pit Mine) Fluorite on Quartz 4cm tall© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite on Calcite ~5cm tall© Fluorite 5cm wide© Dan Weinrich Fluorite USA Colorado, Lake Co., Leadville District Fluorite & Galena 11cm wide© Fluorite USA Colorado, Mesa Co., Genevieve Barite Mine Fluorite on Barite 5cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite USA Colorado, Mesa Co., Unaweep District, Unaweep Canyon, Copper Creek District, Amethyst Queen Claim Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite & Quartz 7cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite 5.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Mesa Co., Unaweep District, Unaweep Canyon, Nancy Hanks Gulch, Nancy Hanks Mine (Nancy Hanks claim) Fluorite 4.4cm wide© Karl Volkman04/05 Fluorite 13.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 8cm tall© Russell G. RizzoFluorite 4.4cm wide© Russell G. Rizzo Fluorite 12.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky UV image of specimen on left© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Ouray Co., Ouray District (Uncompahgre District), Ouray, Bear Creek Canyon, Grizzly Bear Mine, Zanett tunnel Fluorite on Quartz 4.5cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Ouray Co., Sneffels District (Mount Sneffels District), Ouray, Camp Bird Mine Fluorite 4.4cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite, different view of left© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Park and Teller Cos., Crystal Peak area Fluorite on Microcline 4.8cm wide© fabreminerals.com Fluorite 3.3cm wide© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite & Microcline 6.4cm tall© Lavinsky Fluorite, Microcline & Quartz 4.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite crystals are sometimes found in the pegmatites that occur in the granite of the area and is associated with amazonite, smoky quartz, and sometimes goethite. Usually the amazonite specimens pockets are found in areas of decomposed or partially decomposed granite. The granite of Crystal Peak is surrounded swarms of small pegmatites and they will probably still be digging amazonite, smoky quartz and fluorite from this locality for a hundred years. Fluorite cubes are the most common habit, followed by octahedrally modified cubes and rarely octahedrons up to 10cm in size. The crystal faces usually show some etching by late solutions. Colors include lavender (common), pale green or colorless. The crystals are commonly colored zoned with cores being dark purple to black. Almost all the specimens are found in pockets that have been infiltrated with fine grained iron minerals, and it can be challenging to clean them without further etching the crystals. [Rock Currier 2012] Fluorite USA Colorado, Teller Co., Crystal Peak area, Dreamtime Claim Fluorite, Microcline, Quartz 6.5cm tall© Fabre Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite on Microcline 5.9cm wide© Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Park Co., Alma District, Mount Bross, Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine) Fluorite on Quartz 15cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite Quartz & Tetrahedrite 5.4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite ~3cm tall© C. Stefano '09 Fluorite 5.5cm center© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite on Quartz 5.4cm wide© Fabre Fluorite on Quartz, another view of left© Fabre Fluorite & Chalcopyrite 5.6cm wide© Jasun McAvoy Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 4.2 cm wide © Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 7.2cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Although much better known for it's rhodochrosite specimens, it did produce some nice small fluorite crystals. During specimen recovery of the rhodochrosite, several hundred specimens of fluorite were produced. Cyrstals of clear, blue, green, yellow and zoned crystals have been found. The primary habit is cubes, dodecahedral modifications of cubes, cube penetration twins, dodecahedrons and rare octahedrons. The mine is a small one and has been mined exclusively for specimens of rhodochrosite. The reason that so many specimen of fluorite from this locality are shown is that anything that looked like a decent specimen was saved. This would definitely not be the case from a mine that was mined for industrial purposes. [David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012] Fluorite USA Colorado, Park Co., Lake George (Badger Flats) Beryllium Area (Mountain Dale), Boomer Mine (East Boomer; Outhouse Lode; Mammoth Lode; Florman Shaft) Fluorite & Quartz ~10cm wide© Fluorite USA Colorado, Saguache Co., Bonanza District (Kerber Creek District), Eagle Mine (Eagle-Hawk Mine Eagle and Hawk Claims) Fluorite, Dolomite & Quartz 7.5cm tall© Fluorite United States Colorado, San Juan Co., Animas District Fluorite 5.2cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, San Juan Co., Animas District, Howardsville, American Tunnel Mine (Gold King Mine) Fluorite & Rhodochrosite ~11cm wide© Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 6.6cm wide© Fabre Fluorite on Rhodochrosite 9.2cm wide© Jasun McAvoy The American Tunnel and the Sunnyside mine produced good specimens of rhodochrosite and fluorite for many years. The miners used to save the specimens and sell them to mineral dealers and rock shops far and wide. The 11 cm specimen pictured above is probably the all time champion fluorite/rhodochrosite specimen from the mine and was formerly in the collection of Josephine Scripps of La Jolla, California. Fluorite USA Colorado, San Juan Co., Eureka District, Gladstone, Sunnyside Mine (American Tunnel; Mogul Mine; Washington Mine; Belle Creole; Gold Prince; Brenneman Mine; Sunnyside Mine Group) Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 6.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 3.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 5cm© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 5.4cm wide© David J. Eicher Fluorite & Calcite 12.2cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite 22.2cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Colorado, Teller Co., Cripple Creek District, Cripple Creek Fluorite on Quartz 4.9cm wide© Norman King Fluorite USA Connecticut, Fairfield Co., Trumbull, Old Mine Plaza construction site Fluorite on Calcite 11.5cm wide© Michael Otto Fluorite on Calcite 8.8cm wide© Michael Otto Fluorite & Calcite 5cm wide© Michael Otto Fluorite & Calcite 8cm wide© Michael Otto Fluorite 8cm tall© 2006 Jeremy Zolan Fluorite 7.6cm wide© Michael Otto Fluorite USA Connecticut, Litchfield Co., Thomaston, Thomaston Dam railroad cut Fluorite, Calcite etc. 8.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 9.9cm wide© H. Obodda The locality produced better specimen than those pictured here. Perhaps someone will provide us with images of better specimens. Fluorite USA Connecticut, Middlesex Co., Durham, Reed's Gap Quarry (New Haven Trap Rock quarry; Tilcon Durham quarry) This quarry has produced sharp green & purple Fluorite octahedrons growing on Quartz crystals. Fluorite USA Idaho, Custer Co., Bay Horse District, Garden Creek Mine (Garden Creek Silver) Fluorite ~5cm tall© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Idaho, Custer Co., Keystone Mountain Fluorite ~9cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite Illinois The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District encompasses an area of approximately 1000 square miles. The first mention of fluorite from the area was in the American Journal of Science in 1818 from near Shawneetown, Illinois, but carved artifacts by the prehistoric peoples have been found. Mining began in the Kentucky portion of the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district in the 1830's at the Columbia mine, which produced galena (they were attempting to mine for silver), but was not particularly successful. Andrew Jackson was one of the investors in this mine. The large fluorspar deposits were worthless until the 1870's when the demand for fluorite in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, glasses, enamels and a metallurgical flux increased. This production rapidly increased in 1889 when fluorite became an important flux for the Bessemer production of iron. The production of fluorite in Kentucky peaked in the early 1940's when Illinois became the leading state in the production of fluorite. By the early 1990's, imports accounted for more than 90% of US usage. In 1985, the last fluorite mine in Kentucky closed and mining in Illinois ceased in 1995. From 1873 to 1985, Western Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced about 3.5 million tons of fluorspar, 70,000 tons of zinc, 12,500 tons of lead, and 45,000 tons of barite concentrate. Illinois produced about 8 million tons of fluorspar (primarily from about 20 large mines). In 1906, one company sold a ton of specimen grade fluorite for $60. There are two primary types of fluorite ore in the region, vertical veins (Kentucky and Illinois) which can reach depths of a thousand feet and replacements of some sedimentary beds (Southern Illinois). The fluorite was deposited from hydrothermal waters that varied in temperature from about 60 to 150 degrees C. The host rocks for the replacement deposits are limestones and dolomites from the upper Valmeyern and lower Chesterian Mississippi era. Structurally, the area is the most highly faulted area in the region. Associated minerals include calcite, barite, galena, sphalerite, strontianite, celestite, benstonite, alstonite, quartz, witherite and bitumen. Colors include clear, white, yellow, green, rose, purple and various shades of blue. Crystals will often exhibit phantoms of different colors. The color changes in the crystals can be correlated across the entire district. The first deposited fluorites were yellow in color, and later generations were usually colored some shade of blue or purple. White fluorite is more common in the vein deposits. Clear (optical grade) fluorite was found in the Crystal mine and green fluorite was found in the Rose mine on Hick's Dome. The dominant crystal habit is the cube. They have been found in crystals to 20 cm. Most of the mines did not produce fluorescent specimens with the exception of fluorite from Pope county. The associated hydrocarbons will often fluoresce a pale yellow. Fluorite from the Rosiclare Mining Company was exhibited in the 1900 Paris World Exposition (along with lead ore, sandstone and limestone). Although there were articles about the fluorite mines in the 1930's, mineral specimens were not widely available until after WWII. There were probably millions of specimens sold during this period, from large matrix pieces to cleaved octahedrons (a popular tourist item). The miners usually had a full lunch bucket in and a full lunch bucket of specimens out each day. Named mine specimens are common from the Rosiclare and Bethel levels of the Annabelle Lee mine, Rosiclare level Denton mine, Rosiclare level Minerva No. 1 mine, Davis/Deardorff mine, Crystal mine, and Mahoning Mine No.7. All of the specimens pictured below are from one mine or another in the Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District. Specimens from the Kentucky side of the river are very few in number compared to those from the Illinois side and that is probably why it is called the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District rather then the Kentucky-Illinois Fluorspar District. [David Von Bargen 2011] Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co. Fluorite 7.4cm tall© Rob LavinskyFluorite 12.5 cm wide© Rob Lavinsky. Fluorite, cut & polished 7.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 10cm wide© Michael C. Roarke Fluorite UV image of left© Michael C. Roarke Fluorite 7.9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 6.4cm tall© Fluorite 8.5cm wide© Georges BRET Fluorite & Calcite 5.7cm wide© Dan Weinrich Fluorite 8.4cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 13.4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky.Fluorite & Calcite2.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 12cm wide© Georges BRET The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced hundreds of thousands of specimens over the years. During the process of dispersal and sale frequently the only information that was carried with them was Fluorite, Illinois. Since there are hardly any other fluorite localities in Illinois, and the name of the mine was not retained, most collectors simply put on their labels that the specimens are from Cave In Rock or Hardin County, Illinois since that is where most of the specimens came from and they would have a better than 90% chance of having an accurate locality. The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District encompasses an area of approximately 1000 square miles. The first mention of fluorite from the area was in the American Journal of Science in 1818 from near Shawneetown, Illinois, but carved artifacts by the prehistoric peoples have been found. Mining began in the Kentucky portion of the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district in the 1830's at the Columbia mine, which produced galena (they were attempting to mine for silver), but was not particularly successful. Andrew Jackson was one of the investors in this mine. The large fluorspar deposits were worthless until the 1870's when the demand for fluorite in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, glasses, enamels and a metallurgical flux increased. This production rapidly increased in 1889 when fluorite became an important flux for the Bessemer production of iron. The production of fluorite in Kentucky peaked in the early 1940's when Illinois became the leading state in the production of fluorite. By the early 1990's, imports accounted for more than 90% of US usage. In 1985, the last fluorite mine in Kentucky closed and mining in Illinois ceased in 1995. From 1873 to 1985, Western Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced about 3.5 million tons of fluorspar, 70,000 tons of zinc, 12,500 tons of lead, and 45,000 tons of barite concentrate. Illinois produced about 8 million tons of fluorspar (primarily from about 20 large mines). In 1906, one company sold a ton of specimen grade fluorite for $60. There are two primary types of fluorite ore in the region, vertical veins (Kentucky and Illinois) which can reach depths of a thousand feet and replacements of some sedimentary beds (Southern Illinois). The fluorite was deposited from hydrothermal waters that varied in temperature from about 60 to 150 degrees C. The host rocks for the replacement deposits are limestones and dolomites from the upper Valmeyern and lower Chesterian Mississippi era. Structurally, the area is the most highly faulted area in the region. Associated minerals include calcite, barite, galena, sphalerite, strontianite, celestite, benstonite, alstonite, quartz, witherite and bitumen. Colors include clear, white, yellow, green, rose, purple and various shades of blue. Crystals will often exhibit phantoms of different colors. The color changes in the crystals can be correlated across the entire district. The first deposited fluorites were yellow in color, and later generations were usually colored some shade of blue or purple. White fluorite is more common in the vein deposits. Clear (optical grade) fluorite was found in the Crystal mine and green fluorite was found in the Rose mine on Hick's Dome. The dominant crystal habit is the cube. They have been found in crystals to 20 cm. Most of the mines did not produce fluorescent specimens with the exception of fluorite from Pope county. The associated hydrocarbons will often fluoresce a pale yellow. Fluorite from the Rosiclare Mining Company was exhibited in the 1900 Paris World Exposition (along with lead ore, sandstone and limestone). Although there were articles about the fluorite mines in the 1930's, mineral specimens were not widely available until after WWII. There were probably millions of specimens sold during this period, from large matrix pieces to cleaved octahedrons (a popular tourist item). The miners usually had a full lunch bucket in and a full lunch bucket out each day. Named mine specimens are common from the Rosiclare and Bethel levels of the Annabelle Lee mine, Rosiclare level Denton mine, Rosiclare level Minerva No. 1 mine, Davis/Deardorff mine, Crystal mine, and Mahoning Mine No.7. All of the specimens pictured below are from one mine or another in the Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District. Specimens from the Kentucky side of the river are very few in number compared to those from the Illinois side and that is probably why it is called the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District rather then the Kentucky-Illinois Fluorspar District. [David Von Bargen] Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock Fluorite 11cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite 8cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide© 2003 John H. BettsFluorite 10cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite & Calcite 6.2cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 9.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 9cm wide© 2003 John H. Betts Fluorite 12cm wide© Geoffrey Krasnov Fluorite 5.1cm wide© 2008 Steve Hardinger Fluorite & Sphalerite 11.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 18.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Sphalerite 10.3cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite ~5cm tall© Fluorite, Calcite ~7cm© Fluorite 11.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Sphalerite 13.6m wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 7.1cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite, UV image of specimen on left© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 11cm wide© 2002 John H. Betts Fluorite 11.9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite ~38cm wide© J.N. Wingard Fluorite ~40cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite & Sphalerite 6.2cm wide© Dr. Perry Silver Fluorite 12.5cm wide© Fluorite & Celestite 4.9cm tall© A&M Fluorite 13cm wide© Jim Simpson Fluorite & Calcite 25cm wide© L.Bernard Fluorite 6.7cm wide]© G,De'Young 9.2 cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 45 cm wide© J.N. Wingard Fluorite, cut & polished ~9cm wide, circa 1830?© Alan Goldstein The specimen pictured above if from the Gerald Troost collection circa 1830. It is really more of a lapidary specimen and is of more interest to historical mining buffs rather than something that would be sought after as a valuable specimen to mineral collectors. It undoubtedly came from one of the mines in the Cave in Rock area, but exactly which on will probably never be determined. It is shown here more for its historical significance rather than put forward as a particularly fine specimen. [David Von Bargen 2011] Cave in Rock Cave in Rock 1988© Palmer' rock shop Cave in Rock© Fluorite cleavage 5 cm© David Von Bargen Fluorite cleavages up to 4cm© Crater Rock Museum Fluorite octahedron, polished ~5.7cm© Weinrich Cave in Rock is a small community near the mines and is rather rural as you can see from the above picture. This is where you would go when you were looking for fluorite specimens when the mines were running. The name Cave in Rock appears on countless specimens of fluorite from the surrounding mines. Large pieces of fluorite were so readily available that a cottage industry developed which produced octahedral fluorite cleavages for the tourist industry. This occupation was called chipping diamonds. While the mines were running, these octahedral cleavages, some of which can be seen just above, were available in almost any quantity in a variety of sizes and colors. To make these cleavage octahedrons required big relatively clean untwinned fluorite crystals. The heavily damaged fluorite crystals were reserved for this work. The makers would hold the damaged fluorite crystal in one hand and using a sharp chisel would strike the fluorite parallel to its plains of cleavage, again and again till they had a good looking cleavage octahedron. It took a bit of skill to do this as well as a knowledge of the crystallographic orientation of the cleavages in fluorite. I tried my hand at it for a while, but never got very good at it. Sometimes if twinned material was used, the 'diamonds' could not be made at all, or when they were made, the points of the octahedrons were sort of curved this way or that. The fluorite that produced this kind of cleavage octahedron was called coon tail fluorite. With the closing of the mines, the production of these "diamonds" is almost a thing of the past though you can now buy fluorite cleavage octahedrons from China that are made from Chinese fluorite, though the color range of them is rather more limited than those from Illinois. [David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012] Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Hill-Ledford Mine Fluorite on Quartz 10cm tall© Fisher Fluorite 7.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Sphalerite 13cm wide© DSW 2011 Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Victory Mine (Addision shaft) Fluorite 4cm wide© 2001 John H. Betts Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Minerva No. 1 Mine (Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 Mine) Ozark-Mahoning Group Fluorite 4cm tall© Sarah Sudcowsky Fluorite 11cm tall© 2001, Jesse Fisher Fluorite on Barite ~6cm© 2001, Jesse FisherFluorite ~5cm wide© 2007, Jesse Fisher Fluorite & Barite 6cm wide© 2001 John H. Betts Fluorite & Sphalerite 8cm© 2001, Jesse Fisher Fluorite & Calcite 5.8 cm © WardFluorite & Calcite 6.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 14.4 cm wide© www.exceptionalminerals.com Fluorite 13 cm wide© Rob Lavinsky 3.2cm Fluorite cube on Sphalerite© Christian Bracke Fluorite 6.4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 9cm tall© Kevin Ward Fluorite 9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 22cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 6.7cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 11cm wide© Jim Simpson Fluorite 9cm tall© Collectors Edge Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Sphalerite 9cm wide© Antonio Borrelli. Fluorite & Calcite 7.4cm wide© Weinrich Minerals, Inc. Fluorite 16cm wide© Van Heghe Photo Fluorite & Calcite 7cm tall© Geoffrey Krasnov Fluorite & Calcite 6.5cm wide© Dan Weinrich Fluorite 25cm wide© Van Heghe Photo Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm tall© Ward Fluorite 10cm wide© 2007 Peter Cristofono. Fluorite 6.4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 10m wide© Russell G. Rizzo Fluorite 6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 6.1cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite 8.2cm wide© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite & Barite 9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 11.5cm wide© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals Fluorite & Sphalerite 10cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 6cm tall© A&M Fluorite & Calcite 13cm wide© Terry Burtzlaff Fluorite 14.4cm tall© Rob Lavinsky One of the largest bedding replacement deposits at 20,000 feet long. Specimens produced before 1977 usually are labeled Minerva No. 1, while those after 1988 are labeled Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 This mine produced good specimens of witherite, bensonite, strontianite and barite in addition to the fluorite. [David Von Bargen 2011] Fluorite USA Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA Fluorite 5 cm wide © 2008 Steve Hardinger Partially etched 18cm wide© J.N. Wingard Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Hill-Ledford Mine Fluorite, Quartz & Galena 10cm tall© Fisher Fluorite 14cm wide© 2004, Jesse Fisher Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Mahoning No. 4 Mine Fluorite 5.5cm wide© 2007 Peter Cristofono Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Ozark-Mahoning Mine Fluorite 11cm wide© 2001 John H. Betts Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Tower Rock Mine (Iron Hill) Fluorite 10.9cm wide© Michael Shaw Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, W.L. Davis-Deardorff Mine Fluorite on Quartz 9.5cm wide© Rob LavinskyFluorite & Galena 10.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Quartz 12.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 14cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite on Sphaolerite 9.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain Fluorite 7.3cm tall© Weinrich Minerals, Inc. Fluorite 5cm center© Joseph A. Freilich Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Austin Group, Green-Defender Mine Fluorite ~8cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Austin Group, Lead Mine (Lead Adit Mine) Fluorite ~10cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite 5cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Hastie's Quarry Fluorite ~8cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Hastie's Quarry, Oxford Cut (Oxford-West Morrison Cut) Fluorite 13cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District Fluorite 11cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 7.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 15.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District, Annabel Lee mine Fluorite 6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 6cm wide© 2001, Jesse Fisher Fluorite 6cm wide© 2000 John H. Betts Fluorite 5.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 8.1cm wide© Fluorite & Calcite 11.5cm wide© Alfonso Rodriguez Fluorite & Calcite 11.2cm tall© Collectors Edge Fluorite & Barite 7.8cm wide© Weinrich Fluorite & Calcite 6cm wide© Russell G. RizzoFluorite 10cm wide© Terry Burtzlaff Fluorite 10.5cm tall© J.Scovil Fluorite 6.3cm tall© Weinrich Minerals, Inc..Fluorite 7.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky The mine was the last one opened and also the last mine closed in the district. It produced many fine specimens. Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District, Denton mine, Goose Creek Mine Group Fluorite 4.7cm tall© Rob LavinskyFluorite 8.9cm wide © Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 11cm wide© Photo Van Heghe Fluorite & calcite 6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 10.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite & Calcite 12.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 10cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 7cm wide© Joseph Polityka Fluorite 8cm wide© DGM Fluorite on Sphalerite 10.8cm tall© J.Scovil Fluorite on Calcite 9.4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite USA Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Rosiclare Sub-District Fluorite & Calcite 7.2cm wide© Fluorite 13.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite 16cm wide© Mikael.Gonzales 2012 Fluorite & Calcite 8cm wide© A&M Fluorite USA Indiana, Allen Co., Fort Wayne, May Stone and Sand Quarry Fluorite 8cm wide© Rob LavinskyFluorite 5cm tall© Rob Lavinsky Fluorite ~4cm tall© Fluorite ~8cm wide© This limestone quarry was a popular collecting site for individuals and clubs in the 1960's to 1980's. It produced pale yellow fluorite cubes to 4cm on an edge. Fluorite USA Indiana, Harrison Co., Corydon, Corydon Stone Co. Quarry (Corydon Crushed Stone and Lime Quarry) Fluorite, scale 100 microns© Alan Goldstein While the faces of fluorite crystals seem to be smooth, they often have growth hillocks and valleys over the surfaces Fluorite USA Kentucky, Boyle Co., Danville, Caldwell Stone Company Quarry, Walker vein Fluorite 8cm tall© fabreminerals.com Fluorite on Baryte 6cm wide© Martins da Pedra Fluorite ~8cm wide© Fluorite on Sphalerite 4.2cm wide © Rob Lavinsky In general, the Kentucky fluorites tend to be much rarer than their Illinois counterparts and also are smaller and less colorful. These mines were at their peak production much earlier than those in Illinois and did not generally produce from replacement bodies. Fluorite USA Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Babb Group Fluorspar Mines (Guill; Kentucky - Babb; Delhi - Babb; Eagle - Babb - Barnes; E. Champion and Gio Taylor Properties Hardin 1955) Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm wide© Fluorite USA Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Commodore Mine Fluorite & Calcite 16cm tall© Joseph Polityka Fluorite USA Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Marion, Eureka Prospects (Eureka Mine) Fluorite 8cm wide© Steve Bonney 2009 Fluorite 7cm wide© Steve Bonney 2009 Fluorite USA Kentucky, Jessamine Co., Nicholasville, Lexington Quarry Company Catnip Hill quarry Fluorite & Barite ~5cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite USA Kentucky, Woodford Co., Harrodsburg, Mundy's Landing, Faircloth Veins Fluorite & Barite 8cm wide© Joseph A. Freilich Fluorite & Barite ~15cm wide© Alan Goldstein Fluorite 7cm tall© Joseph A. Freilich First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011 Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012 Click here to view Best Minerals Fluorite, Missouri to Wyoming and here to view Best Minerals Fluorite and here for Best Minerals F and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles. First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011 Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,136928#msg-136928 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:08:42 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,268050#msg-268050 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,268050#msg-268050 Thanks for letting me know about this. The duplicate image has been removed.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:28:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,268017#msg-268017 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,268017#msg-268017
There is a duplicate picture [www.mindat.org] of a Denton Mine Fluorite in the article.
For the rest, a very nice article !


Best regards,
Mario Pauwels]]> Mario Pauwels Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:26:59 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263741#msg-263741 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263741#msg-263741
If most non-commercial mineral collectors stopped to figure the value of what they found versus the time spent collecting, they would realize what the rest of the world already knows: from a monetary standpoint, they're crazy. As all true collectors know, there are other rewards in life. I appreciate the enormity of the task you've undertaken and will continue to do my best to assist you (even if we sometimes get our wires crossed). Hang in there!]]> Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:10:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263663#msg-263663 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263663#msg-263663
1. They get to choose what images they want to put in their articles. Most authors we are open to most suggestions from others, especially if they can make a case for the specimens they would like to see included, especially if they can come up with interesting information about the locality, the geology, history, and information about the kind of specimens the locality produced. If you think your favorite locality has been given short shrift you need to stand up and "represent"! Even if we don't want to include the specimens that are brought to our attention, we will often put their information about the locality in below the pictures, with credit given to them for their observations, though we may edit their remarks a bit or grill them for what else they may know about the locality and the specimens it produced.

2. Their name in lights. That is they get their name at the top of the article or at least as the author of the first edition.

3. They usually end up learning more about the mineral than they knew before they started the article. After you start one of these articles, you quickly come to realize that you didn't know as much about the mineral and its various localities as you thought you did.

Now if we could only figure out a way to get paid for what we do.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:54:05 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263588#msg-263588 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263588#msg-263588
I think I was misunderstanding the intent of the article. If the intent of the article is to show the best fluorites in the country, then specimens from Maine, with some 75 fluorite photos on Mindat; Massachusetts with 17; Michigan with 16 and Minnesota with only one (included in the span of Louisiana to Mississippi) probably wouldn't make the cut. I was thinking in terms of the best fluorite by state.

Keep up the good work. And if I ever find any better fluorites from Michigan, I'll call them to your attention.

-Dan]]> Dan Fountain Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 13 Jun 2012 12:31:38 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263575#msg-263575 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263575#msg-263575 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:53:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263554#msg-263554 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263554#msg-263554 Mike Polletta Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:46:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263549#msg-263549 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263549#msg-263549
Peter has agreed to take pictures of specimens from Thomaston Dam & Stoddard. As for the history, I'm going to quote Stan Laurel: "That's another fine mess you've got me into, Ollie". The mine sent fluorite to the American Steel &

I would like to confirm exactly which mine we are talking about here.

Rock]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:53:24 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263541#msg-263541 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263541#msg-263541 Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:07:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263537#msg-263537 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263537#msg-263537
Peter has agreed to take pictures of specimens from Thomaston Dam & Stoddard. As for the history, I'm going to quote Stan Laurel: "That's another fine mess you've got me into, Ollie". The mine sent fluorite to the American Steel & Wire Co., a subsidiary of US Steel. The company lasted until the early 1970's and in1899 produced 96% of barbed wire used in the US. However, I haven't been able to track down the history of the Worcester steel mill itself (yet, I hope). I do know once it shut down the Stoddard Mine was no longer economically viable. I have no reports of production after the 1920's but I'm still searching.]]> Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:15:53 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263530#msg-263530 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263530#msg-263530 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:45:20 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263529#msg-263529 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263529#msg-263529 When we have some images of fluorite with decent crystals from Louisiana or Mississippi we will include them. In fact mindat has only one locality for Louisiana and there are no images of the mineral from that locality. As for Mississippi, there are no fluorite localities on mindat for that state at all.

Do you in fact know of any localities in those states that have produced fluorite worth including in the article?]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:07:44 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263506#msg-263506 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263506#msg-263506 www.mindat.org]

best regards, and good luck....joe]]> Joseph Freilich Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:09:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263505#msg-263505 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263505#msg-263505 www.mindat.org]

this as well.......joe]]> Joseph Freilich Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:07:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263504#msg-263504 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263504#msg-263504 www.mindat.org][/size]

perhaps this is useful...regards, joe]]> Joseph Freilich Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:05:47 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263502#msg-263502 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263502#msg-263502 Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:45:51 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263500#msg-263500 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263500#msg-263500 Dan Fountain Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:07:52 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263483#msg-263483 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263483#msg-263483 www.mindat.org]. I am hoping you will be able to supply better and hopefully tell us something about the mine, its geology and its production of specimens.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 12 Jun 2012 07:49:35 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263448#msg-263448 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263448#msg-263448 Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:03:45 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263426#msg-263426 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263426#msg-263426 Thanks for your effort. We like to have pictures of the entire specimen and not close up shots of it and we prefer that the the illumination be as close to natural "white" sunlight as possible although we to some extent can compensate for that with photoshop. I'm sure your guy knows enough to make sure that the entire specimen is in focus by using high F stops. It also helps the sharpness of the image a lot if the camera is on a tripod and hot hand held.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:55:24 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263369#msg-263369 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263369#msg-263369 Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:19:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263299#msg-263299 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263299#msg-263299 I know the Thomaston Dam location Fluorites are pretty ratty, and I sort of winced when I had to use them, but hoped that someone like you might also feel a little embarrassed and step up and get some better specimens pictured in our database that we could use.

We do use a few micro images in our best minerals from time to time, but I find those are mostly by the guys that are doing those stacked images to create the images where more of the specimen is in focus than the old style of photomicrographs. I just hate using pictures where much of the images are out of focus. However, when we have nothing else, we will use them till better ones show up.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:02:01 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263279#msg-263279 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,263279#msg-263279
Should I try to arrange to have a friend to take photos of some Thomaston Dam, CT specimens? Right now, it is sparsely represented. Also, do you want photos of micros (from any locality)?]]> Don Swenson Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:28:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,177375#msg-177375 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,177375#msg-177375 Fluorite Walworth blue]]> Bill Dameron Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:33:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137539#msg-137539 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137539#msg-137539 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 May 2009 17:50:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137534#msg-137534 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137534#msg-137534
[www.mindat.org]

Thanks

Adam]]> Adam Shields Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 11 May 2009 17:36:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137047#msg-137047 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137047#msg-137047 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 07 May 2009 01:49:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137023#msg-137023 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,137023#msg-137023
It seems no problem to find some decent Fluorite pictures from the Minerva No 1 Mine, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois.
I think this one is differently, and maybe you can use it to. [www.mindat.org]


Regards,
Mario Pauwels]]> Mario Pauwels Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 06 May 2009 18:49:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,136928#msg-136928 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,136928,136928#msg-136928 First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011
Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012


Click here to view Best Minerals Fluorite, Missouri to Wyoming and here to view Best Minerals Fluorite and here for Best Minerals F and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?



Fluorite
United States
CaF₂ Cubic

Fluorite, Minerva No. 1 Mine,Cave-in-Rock Illinois, USA 8.1cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

There are something more than 3800 fluorite localities for the United States currently listed on mindat (20120) though few of them produce specimens of interest to collectors. Though a number of the specimen localities produce outstanding fluorite specimens it is generally agreed that the best fluorites in the USA are found in Southern Illinois, which has produced many tons of fine specimens. These are usually labeled Cave in Rock, Illinois or Hardin Co., Illinois. Many fluorite specimens have been produced from various Mississippi Valley type deposits in sedimentary rocks. Especially those found in the zinc mines near Elmwood Tennessee. Other fine specimens have been produced from various limestone and dolomite quarries throughout the midwestern region of the USA. Fluorite is found in pegmatites from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Significant fluorite from hydrothermal veins has been found in New Mexico, Colorado, Montana and Utah, although the better specimen producing states are Colorado and New Mexico. Most of the other states have localities where fluorite is found, although many of these are only of interest to people collecting specimens from a particular state The southern Illinois material has produced faceted stones, while the Bingham New Mexico blue fluorite has been used for cabochons (neither of which are well suited for jewelry because of the softness of the mineral.
[David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012


Fluorite
USA
Alaska, Sitka Borough, Kuiu Island

Fluorite 2.5cm wide	© A&M

Fluorite on Quartz 3.8cm tall	© A&M

Fluorite
USA
Alaska, Sitka Borough, Kuiu Island, Rocky Pass

Fluorite 6cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite 2.5cm wide	© PMB

Fluorite on Quartz 5.1cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 2.5cm	©

Fluorite 3.7cm wide	©

The fluorite from this locality is found in veins that intrude the Cornwallis limestone on the northern end of Kuiu Island in southeast Alaska. The deposit was discovered by Gary McWilliams in 1984. The veins are composed mainly of quartz and secondarily of fluorite. The locality was discovered in 1984 by Gary McWilliams who had a boat and would take collectors collecting at various localities off the coast of Alaska.


Fluorite
USA
Alaska, Wrangell-Petersburg Borough, Chatham Strait, Zarembo Island

Fluorite 5cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite ~6cm wide	© DM 06

Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Arizona

Arizona has had only minor commercial production of fluorite, less than 50,000 tons. In pegmatites to the NE of Congress Junction, Arizona, there are dodecahedral crystals to three to four feet across though hardly of specimen quality.


Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Tombstone

Wulfenite & Wulfenite 3.7cm wide	© Weinrich

The specimen above is probably from the Toughnut Mine. These are rare creatures and you will rarely see one in a collection.


Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Empire Mine

Fluorite 12cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

UV image of specimen on left	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Tombstone, Toughnut Mine (Tough Nut Mine; Northwest Mine; Hoodoo stopes; Tombstone group)

Fluorite & Wulfenite 7.5cm tall	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Graham Co., Aravaipa District, Santa Teresa Mts.

Fluorite on Quartz 6.1cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite on Quartz 4.1cm tall	© Weinrich

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Graham Co., Aravaipa District, Santa Teresa Mts, Klondyke, Ten Strike Mine (Tenstrike Mine; Ten Strike group; Stone and Dempsey; Klondyke Mining Co.; Lone Pine Lead; Cassidy and Rubal)

Fluorite & Quartz 2.6cm wide	©

Fluorite on Quartz 10.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Fluorite & Quartz 6cm tall	©

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, La Paz Co., Buckskin Mts

Fluorite & Calcite? 5.4cm wide	© A&M

Fluorite 3.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, La Paz Co., Buckskin Mts, Heson Mine (Hesson Mine)

Fluorite ~8cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite & Cerussite 10.3cm wide	© Jasun McAvoy

Fluorite 3.4cm wide	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, La Paz Co., Trigo Mts, Trigo Mountains District (Cibola District)

Fluorite & Quartz 6cm wide	© PM 2008

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Union Pass District), Oatman District (San Francisco District)

Fluorite & Quartz 4.8cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Fluorite & Quartz ~8cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Fluorite on Quartz 5cm wide

Fluorite & Quartz 9.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, San Francisco District, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Homestake-Jack Pot Mine (Homestake prospect; Jack Pot Mine; Homestake Mine; Lucky Budge group)

Fluorite on Quartz 8.7 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide	© Michael Shaw

Fluorite 3.2cm wide	© Eric Graff

Fluorite on Quartz 5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Quartz 6.3cm wide	© Eric Graff

UV image of specimen on left	© Eric Graff

Fluorite on Quartz 4.4cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), San Francisco District, Oatman, Moss Mine, Moss vein

Fluorite 6.8cm	© A&M

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Silver Creek area, Skinner lode

Fluorite 3.5cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich, LLC

Fluorite 7.5cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich, LLC

Fluorite 7.5cm wide	© J.K. Nash, Ph.D.

Fluorite 4.3cm wide	© PMB

Fluorite ~7cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite ~3cm tall	© Joseph A. Freilich

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Union Pass District (Katherine District), Katherine Mine (Catherine Mine; Illinois Mine; Mohawk Extension Patented Mine)

Fluorite 7cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Cerbat Mts (Cerbat Range), White Hills, Gold Basin District, Buckskin Mine (Golconda patented claim 3027)

Fluorite on Quartz 7.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Black Mts, Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Hardy Mine (Hardy vein; Miller Mine; Parsons Mine; Keynote Mine)

Fluorite on Quartz 4.5cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Homestake claims

Fluorite 7cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Oregon Mine

Fluorite on Quartz 5.4cm	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Pima Co., Sierrita Mts, Papago District (Sierrita District), Black Dike Mine (Black Dike group; Black Dike claim; Black Dike deposit; Black Dyke Mine; Big Dike; Bobson group; Big Dike Apex & Ajax)

Fluorite 12cm wide

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Mammoth District, Tiger, St. Anthony deposit, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine)

Fluorite 3.5cm tall	© Michael D. Cline

Fluorite
Arizona
Arizona, Yavapai Co., Eureka District, Bagdad

Fluorite 2.8cm tall	© PMB

Fluorite
USA
Arizona, Yuma Co., Castle Dome Mts, Castle Dome District

Fluorite 5.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 4.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 10cm wide

There were never many specimens of fluorite from this locality and those that were saved were collected by field collectors from the mines after they were closed. A few of them were associated with nice small wulfenite crystals a millimeter or two across.


Fluorite
USA
California, Los Angeles Co., San Gabriel Mts, Azusa (Dalton), Felix Mine

Fluorite on Quartz 8cm wide	© Joseph Polityka

Fluorite 5.8cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite 5.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 5.4cm wide	© TVM

Fluorite 5.2cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite ~8cm wide	©

Fluorite 9cm wide	© WWB

back side of left	© WWB

Fluorite 5.8cm wide	©

Fluorite 6.5cm wide	© A&M

.

Fluorite 9.2cm wide	© J.Scovil

Fluorite 7.2cm wide	© A&M

Fluorite 8.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

The Felix mine should probably be more accurately called the Felix Prospect. It is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains slightly above the foothill community of Azusa, California. Even in the 70s it was difficult to find any sign of mine or prospect workings. For years it has been a minor local locality that was popular for field trips by local collectors and gem and mineral societies. You would just start digging away the vegetation and dirt in the hillside into the decomposed granite and if you were lucky you would find a vein that would produce fluorite crystals, though they were not sharp and shiny or very large, you usually managed to come away with a flat or two of very modest specimens. They were all iron stained and the ones pictures above are some of the champions for the deposit. You could collect there many times and not find specimens as nice as those pictured here.
[Rock Currier 2012]


Fluorite
USA
California, Sierra Co., Sierra Co., Chloride Placer Mine (Small Fry # 3; Golden Slide)

Fluorite 8.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, USA
Colorado has produced fluorite in the amount of 2.5 million tons. The major production areas were the Jamestown, Brown's Canyon, Northgate and Wagon Wheel districts. The last significant commercial production was from North Park (shut down in 1973). The Jamestown specimens are rapidly bleached by sunlight and also usually are thermoluminescent. As far as fluorite specimens go the best ones come from the pegmatites and miarolitic cavities often associated with amazonite, smoky quartz and rarely with topaz and aquamarine.
[David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012]


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Mt Antero

Fluorite & Phenacite 10.1cm tall	© Ward

Fluorite & Quartz 2.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 5.5cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite & Quartz 2.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 12.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 3.4cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

Fluorite 2.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 2.2cm tall	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite & Phenacite ~3.5cm wide	©

Fluorite ~6cm wide	©

Crystals from the pegmatites and miarolitic cavities range in size from 1mm to 20cm. The colors include purple, green and clear octahedrons and cubes. In 1982 about 100 light green to violet fluorite specimens were collected from a Mt Antero pegmatite.


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Mt White

Fluorite 8.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Clear Creek Co., Dailey District (Jones Pass District), Urad mine

Fluorite 11cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Clear Creek Co., Georgetown District

Fluorite 3cm wide	© Paul W. Kendall

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, El Paso Co., Crystal Park

Fluorite 3cm tall	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, El Paso Co., Pikes Peak

Fluorite on Microcline 4cm wide	© Martin Gruell

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Fremont Co., Canon City District

Fluorite 8.5cm tall	© Christian Bracke

Fluorite 6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

The "mine" produced botyroidal groups up to 20cm across in purplish to bluish shades of gray (specimens have a tendency to lose water and turn opaque). Several hundred specimens were found by Don Knowles in the 1980's. The specimens occurred in vugs up to 13 feet in size.


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Lake Co., Climax District, Climax, Climax Mine (Climax Open Pit Mine)

Fluorite on Quartz 4cm tall	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite on Calcite ~5cm tall	©

Fluorite 5cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Lake Co., Leadville District

Fluorite & Galena 11cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Mesa Co., Genevieve Barite Mine

Fluorite on Barite 5cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Mesa Co., Unaweep District, Unaweep Canyon, Copper Creek District, Amethyst Queen Claim

Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite & Quartz 7cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite 5.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Mesa Co., Unaweep District, Unaweep Canyon, Nancy Hanks Gulch, Nancy Hanks Mine (Nancy Hanks claim)

Fluorite 4.4cm wide	© Karl Volkman04/05

Fluorite 13.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 8cm tall	© Russell G. Rizzo

Fluorite 4.4cm wide	© Russell G. Rizzo

Fluorite 12.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

UV image of specimen on left	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Ouray Co., Ouray District (Uncompahgre District), Ouray, Bear Creek Canyon, Grizzly Bear Mine, Zanett tunnel

Fluorite on Quartz 4.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Ouray Co., Sneffels District (Mount Sneffels District), Ouray, Camp Bird Mine

Fluorite 4.4cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite, different view of left	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Park and Teller Cos., Crystal Peak area

Fluorite on Microcline 4.8cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite 3.3cm wide	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite & Microcline 6.4cm tall	© Lavinsky

Fluorite, Microcline & Quartz 4.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite crystals are sometimes found in the pegmatites that occur in the granite of the area and is associated with amazonite, smoky quartz, and sometimes goethite. Usually the amazonite specimens pockets are found in areas of decomposed or partially decomposed granite. The granite of Crystal Peak is surrounded swarms of small pegmatites and they will probably still be digging amazonite, smoky quartz and fluorite from this locality for a hundred years. Fluorite cubes are the most common habit, followed by octahedrally modified cubes and rarely octahedrons up to 10cm in size. The crystal faces usually show some etching by late solutions. Colors include lavender (common), pale green or colorless. The crystals are commonly colored zoned with cores being dark purple to black. Almost all the specimens are found in pockets that have been infiltrated with fine grained iron minerals, and it can be challenging to clean them without further etching the crystals.
[Rock Currier 2012]


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Teller Co., Crystal Peak area, Dreamtime Claim

Fluorite, Microcline, Quartz 6.5cm tall	© Fabre

Fluorite & Quartz 5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite on Microcline 5.9cm wide	© Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Park Co., Alma District, Mount Bross, Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine)

Fluorite on Quartz 15cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite Quartz & Tetrahedrite 5.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite ~3cm tall	© C. Stefano '09

Fluorite 5.5cm center	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite on Quartz 5.4cm wide	© Fabre

Fluorite on Quartz, another view of left	© Fabre

Fluorite & Chalcopyrite 5.6cm wide	© Jasun McAvoy

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 4.2 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 7.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Although much better known for it's rhodochrosite specimens, it did produce some nice small fluorite crystals. During specimen recovery of the rhodochrosite, several hundred specimens of fluorite were produced. Cyrstals of clear, blue, green, yellow and zoned crystals have been found. The primary habit is cubes, dodecahedral modifications of cubes, cube penetration twins, dodecahedrons and rare octahedrons. The mine is a small one and has been mined exclusively for specimens of rhodochrosite. The reason that so many specimen of fluorite from this locality are shown is that anything that looked like a decent specimen was saved. This would definitely not be the case from a mine that was mined for industrial purposes.
[David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012]


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Park Co., Lake George (Badger Flats) Beryllium Area (Mountain Dale), Boomer Mine (East Boomer; Outhouse Lode; Mammoth Lode; Florman Shaft)

Fluorite & Quartz ~10cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Saguache Co., Bonanza District (Kerber Creek District), Eagle Mine (Eagle-Hawk Mine Eagle and Hawk Claims)

Fluorite, Dolomite & Quartz 7.5cm tall	©

Fluorite
United States
Colorado, San Juan Co., Animas District

Fluorite 5.2cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, San Juan Co., Animas District, Howardsville, American Tunnel Mine (Gold King Mine)

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite ~11cm wide	©

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 6.6cm wide	© Fabre

Fluorite on Rhodochrosite 9.2cm wide	© Jasun McAvoy

The American Tunnel and the Sunnyside mine produced good specimens of rhodochrosite and fluorite for many years. The miners used to save the specimens and sell them to mineral dealers and rock shops far and wide. The 11 cm specimen pictured above is probably the all time champion fluorite/rhodochrosite specimen from the mine and was formerly in the collection of Josephine Scripps of La Jolla, California.


Fluorite
USA
Colorado, San Juan Co., Eureka District, Gladstone, Sunnyside Mine (American Tunnel; Mogul Mine; Washington Mine; Belle Creole; Gold Prince; Brenneman Mine; Sunnyside Mine Group)

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 6.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 3.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 5cm	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Rhodochrosite 5.4cm wide	© David J. Eicher

Fluorite & Calcite 12.2cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite 22.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Colorado, Teller Co., Cripple Creek District, Cripple Creek

Fluorite on Quartz 4.9cm wide	© Norman King

Fluorite
USA
Connecticut, Fairfield Co., Trumbull, Old Mine Plaza construction site

Fluorite on Calcite 11.5cm wide	© Michael Otto

Fluorite on Calcite 8.8cm wide	© Michael Otto

Fluorite & Calcite 5cm wide	© Michael Otto

Fluorite & Calcite 8cm wide	© Michael Otto

Fluorite 8cm tall	© 2006 Jeremy Zolan

Fluorite 7.6cm wide	© Michael Otto

Fluorite
USA
Connecticut, Litchfield Co., Thomaston, Thomaston Dam railroad cut

Fluorite, Calcite etc. 8.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 9.9cm wide	© H. Obodda

The locality produced better specimen than those pictured here. Perhaps someone will provide us with images of better specimens.


Fluorite
USA
Connecticut, Middlesex Co., Durham, Reed's Gap Quarry (New Haven Trap Rock quarry; Tilcon Durham quarry)

This quarry has produced sharp green & purple Fluorite octahedrons growing on Quartz crystals.


Fluorite
USA
Idaho, Custer Co., Bay Horse District, Garden Creek Mine (Garden Creek Silver)

Fluorite ~5cm tall	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Idaho, Custer Co., Keystone Mountain

Fluorite ~9cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
Illinois
The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District encompasses an area of approximately 1000 square miles. The first mention of fluorite from the area was in the American Journal of Science in 1818 from near Shawneetown, Illinois, but carved artifacts by the prehistoric peoples have been found. Mining began in the Kentucky portion of the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district in the 1830's at the Columbia mine, which produced galena (they were attempting to mine for silver), but was not particularly successful. Andrew Jackson was one of the investors in this mine. The large fluorspar deposits were worthless until the 1870's when the demand for fluorite in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, glasses, enamels and a metallurgical flux increased. This production rapidly increased in 1889 when fluorite became an important flux for the Bessemer production of iron. The production of fluorite in Kentucky peaked in the early 1940's when Illinois became the leading state in the production of fluorite. By the early 1990's, imports accounted for more than 90% of US usage. In 1985, the last fluorite mine in Kentucky closed and mining in Illinois ceased in 1995. From 1873 to 1985, Western Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced about 3.5 million tons of fluorspar, 70,000 tons of zinc, 12,500 tons of lead, and 45,000 tons of barite concentrate. Illinois produced about 8 million tons of fluorspar (primarily from about 20 large mines). In 1906, one company sold a ton of specimen grade fluorite for $60.

There are two primary types of fluorite ore in the region, vertical veins (Kentucky and Illinois) which can reach depths of a thousand feet and replacements of some sedimentary beds (Southern Illinois). The fluorite was deposited from hydrothermal waters that varied in temperature from about 60 to 150 degrees C. The host rocks for the replacement deposits are limestones and dolomites from the upper Valmeyern and lower Chesterian Mississippi era. Structurally, the area is the most highly faulted area in the region. Associated minerals include calcite, barite, galena, sphalerite, strontianite, celestite, benstonite, alstonite, quartz, witherite and bitumen.

Colors include clear, white, yellow, green, rose, purple and various shades of blue. Crystals will often exhibit phantoms of different colors. The color changes in the crystals can be correlated across the entire district. The first deposited fluorites were yellow in color, and later generations were usually colored some shade of blue or purple. White fluorite is more common in the vein deposits. Clear (optical grade) fluorite was found in the Crystal mine and green fluorite was found in the Rose mine on Hick's Dome. The dominant crystal habit is the cube. They have been found in crystals to 20 cm. Most of the mines did not produce fluorescent specimens with the exception of fluorite from Pope county. The associated hydrocarbons will often fluoresce a pale yellow.

Fluorite from the Rosiclare Mining Company was exhibited in the 1900 Paris World Exposition (along with lead ore, sandstone and limestone). Although there were articles about the fluorite mines in the 1930's, mineral specimens were not widely available until after WWII. There were probably millions of specimens sold during this period, from large matrix pieces to cleaved octahedrons (a popular tourist item). The miners usually had a full lunch bucket in and a full lunch bucket of specimens out each day. Named mine specimens are common from the Rosiclare and Bethel levels of the Annabelle Lee mine, Rosiclare level Denton mine, Rosiclare level Minerva No. 1 mine, Davis/Deardorff mine, Crystal mine, and Mahoning Mine No.7.

All of the specimens pictured below are from one mine or another in the Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District. Specimens from the Kentucky side of the river are very few in number compared to those from the Illinois side and that is probably why it is called the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District rather then the Kentucky-Illinois Fluorspar District.
[David Von Bargen 2011]


Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co.

Fluorite 7.4cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 12.5 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

.

Fluorite, cut & polished 7.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 10cm wide	© Michael C. Roarke

Fluorite UV image of left	© Michael C. Roarke

Fluorite 7.9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 6.4cm tall	©

Fluorite 8.5cm wide	© Georges BRET

Fluorite & Calcite 5.7cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

Fluorite 8.4cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 13.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

.

Fluorite & Calcite2.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 12cm wide	© Georges BRET

The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced hundreds of thousands of specimens over the years. During the process of dispersal and sale frequently the only information that was carried with them was Fluorite, Illinois. Since there are hardly any other fluorite localities in Illinois, and the name of the mine was not retained, most collectors simply put on their labels that the specimens are from Cave In Rock or Hardin County, Illinois since that is where most of the specimens came from and they would have a better than 90% chance of having an accurate locality.

The Illinois -Kentucky Fluorspar District encompasses an area of approximately 1000 square miles. The first mention of fluorite from the area was in the American Journal of Science in 1818 from near Shawneetown, Illinois, but carved artifacts by the prehistoric peoples have been found. Mining began in the Kentucky portion of the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district in the 1830's at the Columbia mine, which produced galena (they were attempting to mine for silver), but was not particularly successful. Andrew Jackson was one of the investors in this mine. The large fluorspar deposits were worthless until the 1870's when the demand for fluorite in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, glasses, enamels and a metallurgical flux increased. This production rapidly increased in 1889 when fluorite became an important flux for the Bessemer production of iron. The production of fluorite in Kentucky peaked in the early 1940's when Illinois became the leading state in the production of fluorite. By the early 1990's, imports accounted for more than 90% of US usage. In 1985, the last fluorite mine in Kentucky closed and mining in Illinois ceased in 1995. From 1873 to 1985, Western Kentucky Fluorspar District has produced about 3.5 million tons of fluorspar, 70,000 tons of zinc, 12,500 tons of lead, and 45,000 tons of barite concentrate. Illinois produced about 8 million tons of fluorspar (primarily from about 20 large mines). In 1906, one company sold a ton of specimen grade fluorite for $60.

There are two primary types of fluorite ore in the region, vertical veins (Kentucky and Illinois) which can reach depths of a thousand feet and replacements of some sedimentary beds (Southern Illinois). The fluorite was deposited from hydrothermal waters that varied in temperature from about 60 to 150 degrees C. The host rocks for the replacement deposits are limestones and dolomites from the upper Valmeyern and lower Chesterian Mississippi era. Structurally, the area is the most highly faulted area in the region. Associated minerals include calcite, barite, galena, sphalerite, strontianite, celestite, benstonite, alstonite, quartz, witherite and bitumen.

Colors include clear, white, yellow, green, rose, purple and various shades of blue. Crystals will often exhibit phantoms of different colors. The color changes in the crystals can be correlated across the entire district. The first deposited fluorites were yellow in color, and later generations were usually colored some shade of blue or purple. White fluorite is more common in the vein deposits. Clear (optical grade) fluorite was found in the Crystal mine and green fluorite was found in the Rose mine on Hick's Dome. The dominant crystal habit is the cube. They have been found in crystals to 20 cm. Most of the mines did not produce fluorescent specimens with the exception of fluorite from Pope county. The associated hydrocarbons will often fluoresce a pale yellow.

Fluorite from the Rosiclare Mining Company was exhibited in the 1900 Paris World Exposition (along with lead ore, sandstone and limestone). Although there were articles about the fluorite mines in the 1930's, mineral specimens were not widely available until after WWII. There were probably millions of specimens sold during this period, from large matrix pieces to cleaved octahedrons (a popular tourist item). The miners usually had a full lunch bucket in and a full lunch bucket out each day. Named mine specimens are common from the Rosiclare and Bethel levels of the Annabelle Lee mine, Rosiclare level Denton mine, Rosiclare level Minerva No. 1 mine, Davis/Deardorff mine, Crystal mine, and Mahoning Mine No.7.

All of the specimens pictured below are from one mine or another in the Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District. Specimens from the Kentucky side of the river are very few in number compared to those from the Illinois side and that is probably why it is called the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District rather then the Kentucky-Illinois Fluorspar District.
[David Von Bargen]


Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock

Fluorite 11cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite 8cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite on Quartz 6cm wide	© 2003 John H. Betts

Fluorite 10cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite & Calcite 6.2cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 9.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 9cm wide	© 2003 John H. Betts

Fluorite 12cm wide	© Geoffrey Krasnov

Fluorite 5.1cm wide	© 2008 Steve Hardinger

Fluorite & Sphalerite 11.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 18.7cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Sphalerite 10.3cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite ~5cm tall	©

Fluorite, Calcite ~7cm	©

Fluorite 11.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Sphalerite 13.6m wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 7.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite, UV image of specimen on left	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 11cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Fluorite 11.9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite ~38cm wide	© J.N. Wingard

Fluorite ~40cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite & Sphalerite 6.2cm wide	© Dr. Perry Silver

Fluorite 12.5cm wide	©

Fluorite & Celestite 4.9cm tall	© A&M

Fluorite 13cm wide	© Jim Simpson

Fluorite & Calcite 25cm wide	© L.Bernard

Fluorite 6.7cm wide]	© G,De'Young

9.2 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 45 cm wide	© J.N. Wingard

Fluorite, cut & polished ~9cm wide, circa 1830?	© Alan Goldstein

The specimen pictured above if from the Gerald Troost collection circa 1830. It is really more of a lapidary specimen and is of more interest to historical mining buffs rather than something that would be sought after as a valuable specimen to mineral collectors. It undoubtedly came from one of the mines in the Cave in Rock area, but exactly which on will probably never be determined. It is shown here more for its historical significance rather than put forward as a particularly fine specimen.
[David Von Bargen 2011]

Cave in Rock

Cave in Rock 1988	©

Palmer' rock shop Cave in Rock	©

Fluorite cleavage 5 cm	© David Von Bargen

Fluorite cleavages up to 4cm	© Crater Rock Museum

Fluorite octahedron, polished ~5.7cm	© Weinrich

Cave in Rock is a small community near the mines and is rather rural as you can see from the above picture. This is where you would go when you were looking for fluorite specimens when the mines were running. The name Cave in Rock appears on countless specimens of fluorite from the surrounding mines. Large pieces of fluorite were so readily available that a cottage industry developed which produced octahedral fluorite cleavages for the tourist industry. This occupation was called chipping diamonds. While the mines were running, these octahedral cleavages, some of which can be seen just above, were available in almost any quantity in a variety of sizes and colors. To make these cleavage octahedrons required big relatively clean untwinned fluorite crystals. The heavily damaged fluorite crystals were reserved for this work. The makers would hold the damaged fluorite crystal in one hand and using a sharp chisel would strike the fluorite parallel to its plains of cleavage, again and again till they had a good looking cleavage octahedron. It took a bit of skill to do this as well as a knowledge of the crystallographic orientation of the cleavages in fluorite. I tried my hand at it for a while, but never got very good at it. Sometimes if twinned material was used, the 'diamonds' could not be made at all, or when they were made, the points of the octahedrons were sort of curved this way or that. The fluorite that produced this kind of cleavage octahedron was called coon tail fluorite. With the closing of the mines, the production of these "diamonds" is almost a thing of the past though you can now buy fluorite cleavage octahedrons from China that are made from Chinese fluorite, though the color range of them is rather more limited than those from Illinois.
[David Von Bargen & Rock Currier 2012]


Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Hill-Ledford Mine

Fluorite on Quartz 10cm tall	© Fisher

Fluorite 7.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Sphalerite 13cm wide	© DSW 2011

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Victory Mine (Addision shaft)

Fluorite 4cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Minerva No. 1 Mine (Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 Mine) Ozark-Mahoning Group

Fluorite 4cm tall	© Sarah Sudcowsky

Fluorite 11cm tall	© 2001, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite on Barite ~6cm	© 2001, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite ~5cm wide	© 2007, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite & Barite 6cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Fluorite & Sphalerite 8cm	© 2001, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite & Calcite 5.8 cm	© Ward

Fluorite & Calcite 6.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 14.4 cm wide	© www.exceptionalminerals.com

Fluorite 13 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

3.2cm Fluorite cube on Sphalerite	© Christian Bracke

Fluorite 6.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 9cm tall	© Kevin Ward

Fluorite 9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 22cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 6.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 11cm wide	© Jim Simpson

Fluorite 9cm tall	© Collectors Edge

Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Sphalerite 9cm wide	© Antonio Borrelli

.

Fluorite & Calcite 7.4cm wide	© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Fluorite 16cm wide	© Van Heghe Photo

Fluorite & Calcite 7cm tall	© Geoffrey Krasnov

Fluorite & Calcite 6.5cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

Fluorite 25cm wide	© Van Heghe Photo

Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm tall	© Ward

Fluorite 10cm wide	© 2007 Peter Cristofono

.

Fluorite 6.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 10m wide	© Russell G. Rizzo

Fluorite 6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 6.1cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite 8.2cm wide	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite & Barite 9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 11.5cm wide	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Fluorite & Sphalerite 10cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 6cm tall	© A&M

Fluorite & Calcite 13cm wide	© Terry Burtzlaff

Fluorite 14.4cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

One of the largest bedding replacement deposits at 20,000 feet long. Specimens produced before 1977 usually are labeled Minerva No. 1, while those after 1988 are labeled Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 This mine produced good specimens of witherite, bensonite, strontianite and barite in addition to the fluorite.
[David Von Bargen 2011]


Fluorite
USA
Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA

Fluorite 5 cm wide	© 2008 Steve Hardinger

Partially etched 18cm wide	© J.N. Wingard

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Cave-in-Rock, Hill-Ledford Mine

Fluorite, Quartz & Galena 10cm tall	© Fisher

Fluorite 14cm wide	© 2004, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Mahoning No. 4 Mine

Fluorite 5.5cm wide	© 2007 Peter Cristofono

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Ozark-Mahoning Mine

Fluorite 11cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, Tower Rock Mine (Iron Hill)

Fluorite 10.9cm wide	© Michael Shaw

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-In-Rock Sub-District, Ozark-Mahoning Group, W.L. Davis-Deardorff Mine

Fluorite on Quartz 9.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Galena 10.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Quartz 12.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 14cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite on Sphaolerite 9.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain

Fluorite 7.3cm tall	© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Fluorite 5cm center	© Joseph A. Freilich

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Austin Group, Green-Defender Mine

Fluorite ~8cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Austin Group, Lead Mine (Lead Adit Mine)

Fluorite ~10cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite 5cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Hastie's Quarry

Fluorite ~8cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Spar Mountain, Hastie's Quarry, Oxford Cut (Oxford-West Morrison Cut)

Fluorite 13cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District

Fluorite 11cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 7.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 15.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District, Annabel Lee mine

Fluorite 6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 6cm wide	© 2001, Jesse Fisher

Fluorite 6cm wide	© 2000 John H. Betts

Fluorite 5.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 8.1cm wide	©

Fluorite & Calcite 11.5cm wide	© Alfonso Rodriguez

Fluorite & Calcite 11.2cm tall	© Collectors Edge

Fluorite & Barite 7.8cm wide	© Weinrich

Fluorite & Calcite 6cm wide	© Russell G. Rizzo

Fluorite 10cm wide	© Terry Burtzlaff

Fluorite 10.5cm tall	© J.Scovil

Fluorite 6.3cm tall	© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

.

Fluorite 7.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

The mine was the last one opened and also the last mine closed in the district. It produced many fine specimens.


Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Harris Creek Sub-District, Denton mine, Goose Creek Mine Group

Fluorite 4.7cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 8.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 11cm wide	© Photo Van Heghe

Fluorite & calcite 6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 10.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite & Calcite 12.7cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 10cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 7cm wide	© Joseph Polityka

Fluorite 8cm wide	© DGM

Fluorite on Sphalerite 10.8cm tall	© J.Scovil

Fluorite on Calcite 9.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite
USA
Illinois, Hardin Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Rosiclare Sub-District

Fluorite & Calcite 7.2cm wide	©

Fluorite 13.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 16cm wide	© Mikael.Gonzales 2012

Fluorite & Calcite 8cm wide	© A&M

Fluorite
USA
Indiana, Allen Co., Fort Wayne, May Stone and Sand Quarry

Fluorite 8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite 5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Fluorite ~4cm tall	©

Fluorite ~8cm wide	©

This limestone quarry was a popular collecting site for individuals and clubs in the 1960's to 1980's. It produced pale yellow fluorite cubes to 4cm on an edge.


Fluorite
USA
Indiana, Harrison Co., Corydon, Corydon Stone Co. Quarry (Corydon Crushed Stone and Lime Quarry)

Fluorite, scale 100 microns	© Alan Goldstein

While the faces of fluorite crystals seem to be smooth, they often have growth hillocks and valleys over the surfaces



Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Boyle Co., Danville, Caldwell Stone Company Quarry, Walker vein

Fluorite 8cm tall	© fabreminerals.com

Fluorite on Baryte 6cm wide	© Martins da Pedra

Fluorite ~8cm wide	©

Fluorite on Sphalerite 4.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

In general, the Kentucky fluorites tend to be much rarer than their Illinois counterparts and also are smaller and less colorful. These mines were at their peak production much earlier than those in Illinois and did not generally produce from replacement bodies.


Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Babb Group Fluorspar Mines (Guill; Kentucky - Babb; Delhi - Babb; Eagle - Babb - Barnes; E. Champion and Gio Taylor Properties Hardin 1955)

Fluorite & Calcite 7.5cm wide	©

Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Commodore Mine

Fluorite & Calcite 16cm tall	© Joseph Polityka

Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Crittenden Co., Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Marion, Eureka Prospects (Eureka Mine)

Fluorite 8cm wide	© Steve Bonney 2009

Fluorite 7cm wide	© Steve Bonney 2009

Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Jessamine Co., Nicholasville, Lexington Quarry Company Catnip Hill quarry

Fluorite & Barite ~5cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite
USA
Kentucky, Woodford Co., Harrodsburg, Mundy's Landing, Faircloth Veins

Fluorite & Barite 8cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Fluorite & Barite ~15cm wide	© Alan Goldstein

Fluorite 7cm tall	© Joseph A. Freilich

First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011
Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012


Click here to view Best Minerals Fluorite, Missouri to Wyoming and here to view Best Minerals Fluorite and here for Best Minerals F and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


First Edition: David Von Bargen 2011
Second Edition: Rock Currier June 2012]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 06 May 2009 09:40:20 +0000