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Fluorite, United States
CaF Cubic
The best fluorites in the USA are found in Southern Illinois, which has produced many tons of fine specimens. 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. Mississippi Valley type deposits in sedimentary rocks are found in Tennessee zinc/lead mines and limestone and dolomite quarries throughout the midwestern region have produced specimens. 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 suited for jewelry).
Mid Continent Region
The fluorite deposits are found in the central and southern regions. Lead zinc deposits in the Tri State and Old lead belt in Missouri and in Northern Illinois/Iowa/Wisconsin rarely have good fluorite crystals. Fluorite was commercially produced in southern Illinois and Kentucky. Other finds in this area are from limestone and dolomite quarries that are operated for crushed stone and agricultural lime.
Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, USA
This 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, yellow, 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 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.
Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
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| 5 cm | © 2008 Steve Hardinger |
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| 14 cm | © 2004, Jesse Fisher |
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| 10 cm | © 2007, Jesse Fisher |
Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
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| 12 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
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| 3 cm | © Christian Bracke |
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| 6 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
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| 9 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
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| 4 cm | © Sarah Sudcowsky |
Annabel Lee mine, Harris Creek Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
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| 6 cm | © 2001, Jesse Fisher |
Denton mine, Goose Creek Mine Group, Harris Creek Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, US
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| © Rob ++++++++ |
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.
May Stone and Sand Quarry, Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana, USA
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.
Corydon Stone Co. Quarry (Corydon Crushed Stone and Lime Quarry), Corydon, Harrison Co., Indiana, USA
While the faces of fluorite crystals seem to be smooth, they often have growth hillocks and valleys over the surfaces.
Walworth Quarry (Dolomite Products Co. Inc. Quarry), Walworth, Wayne Co., New York, USA
Cubes of clear to a pale blue tint up to 5cm on a dolomite matrix. Associated minerals include calcite, celestite, selenite, and sphalerite. The quarry has been open to field trips by area mineral clubs (cut-off saws are a handy collecting tool).
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| 3 cm | © 2002 John H. Betts |
The fluorite is iridescent brown, purple and colorless. It is known for the phantoms of purple fluorite in clear cubes. Associated minerals include calcite, pyrite, quartz, sphalerite and asphalt.
Kraemer & Sons Whiterock quarry, Clay Center, Ottawa Co., Ohio, USA
Cubes and masses of brown and colorless fluorite in the Lockport dolomite. Associated minerals include celestite, pyrite, calcite, dolomite, galena, gypsum and pyrite.
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| 5 cm | © fabreminerals.com |
Colorless and brown cubes of fluorite associated with calcite, Also present in the quarry is pyrite, barite, celestite, sphalerite and dolomite.
Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
In the 1980's and 1990's the Elmwood mine produced thousands of specimens of fluorite (mine produced zinc ores beginning in the 1970's). In addition to the fluorites, the mine also produced world class calcite twins. The other minerals found were sphalerite (black and ruby spar), barite (hemispheres), galena and anglesite. Isolated fluorite cubes on matrix up to 25cm in size were found. The general colors are white, blue, raspberry lavender and a pale yellow. The mine closed in 2002, since then mining has restarted, but was put back on a care and maintenance status.
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| 11 cm | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
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| 5 cm | © fabreminerals.com |
Fluorite that has been redissolved is much more common in the Elmwood mine. The corners are often the only part of the fluorite crystal that remains.
When there are chalcopyrite crystals growing on the surface of the fluorite cubes, there are often dark blue patches of coloring surrounding the sulfide crystals
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| 14 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
Similar specimens to those found in the Elmwood mine (started in the 1980's). Specimens are less commonly available than Elmwood material.
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| 8 cm | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
In pegmatites to the NE of Congress Junction, Arizona, there are dodecahedral crystals to three to four feet across. In pegmatites in the Petaca District, Rio Aribba Co., New Mexico, there are crudely faced crystals that reach 7 feet across. Since these crystals formed at higher temperatures, octahedrons are much more common as a crystal habit. Fluorite is an accessory mineral in these deposits and is rarely commercially available. In Colorado, the desired minerals in the pegmatites and miarolitic cavities are amazonite, smoky quartz, topaz and aquamarine.
Mt Antero, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA
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.
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| 10 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
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| 6 cm | © fabreminerals.com |
Fluorite forms crystals in the miarolitic cavities in the pegmatites and is associated with amazonite, smoky quartz, and goethite. 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.
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| 5 cm | © fabreminerals.com |
Chlorophane is a variety of fluorite that glows when it is heated for the first time. This variety is commonly found in pegmatites.
Hydrothermal veins
Significant production has occurred in Colorado and New Mexico. Commercial production has also been recorded from Utah (250,000 tons), Montana (Crystal Mountain deposits 556,000 tons), and Nevada (575,000 tons).
Arizona, USA
(Arizona - minor commercial production <50,000 tons)
Oatman District (San Francisco District; Union Pass District), Black Mts, Mohave Co., Arizona, USA
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| 8 cm | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| 3 cm | © Joseph A. Freilich, LLC |
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| 8 cm | © Joseph A. Freilich, LLC |
Felix Mine, Azusa (Dalton), Los Angeles Co., California, USA
The fluorite is commonly green, more rarely blue in cube modified octahedrons to 5cm. The deposit consists of subparallel veins in a granite host rock. The area was extensively collected by amateurs as well as more extensive excavation by a mineral dealer. Fluorite from the mine was exhibited in the 1900 Paris World Exposition.
Colorado, USA
Colorado a producer of 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.
Canon City District, Fremont Co., Colorado, USA
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.
Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA
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.
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| 6 cm. | © 2002 John H. Betts |
Colors of fluorite include lavender, dark to pale green, blue and clear. Pale gray/lavender cubes to 10 cm have come from the district. The Sunnyside mine produced up to 5cm green octahedrons. Other mines that produced crystals of this size include the Yukon, Ransom and Genoa.
William Wise Mine, Westmoreland, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, USA
Vein material is commonly available, but well formed individual crystals are rare.
New Mexico, USA
New Mexico fluorite production has been 650,000 tons, primarily as veins in sedimentary and igneous rocks as a result of hydrothermal deposition. These occurrences are primarily found in the southwestern portion of the state although the '27' vein in the Zuni Mts produced ~ 224,000 tons of fluorite.
Catron Co., New Mexico, USA
Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
There are a number of areas in the county that have produced fluorite. There are a number of deposits on the northern county border that extend into Catron county. Although fluorite was mined at the Burro Chief mine in the 1880's, most mining began during WWII. The fluorite tends to form in fault zones within the preCambrian granites in the area. Recently, the small subeconomic deposits of fluorite have been mined for their specimen potential.
Doublestrike Claim (Rocky Trail), Bound Ranch District, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
An early purple or dark green coarsely crystalline and a later well crystallized light green to white fluorite are found at the mine. The cubes are modified by dodecahedral faces as well as tetrahexahedron and hexoctahedrons. Three fault zone and breccia zones (1-4 feet in width) are found in a preCambrian granite.
Pale green cube modified by tan dodecahedral faces.
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| 5 cm. | © 2002 John H. Betts |
The fluorspar occurred as numerous veins and stringers associated with quartz in granite. The purple to green octahedral faces are often covered with a mosaic of slightly misoriented faces.
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| 7 cm. | © 2002 John H. Betts |
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| 5 cm. | © 2002 John H. Betts |
The Blanchard mine is best known for it's blue crystals. They can reach cubes up to 10cm in size. There are also pale green crystals shading into clear and also a more violet tint. In addition to the cubes, the crystals will also have well developed trisoctahedral modifications on the cube faces (these crystals tend to be less than 1cm in size. There are an assortment of secondary copper and lead minerals. The area was first prospected in 1872 for the lead/silver ores. When the claims lapsed, they were restaked with the intent to look for mineral specimens.
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| 13.5 cm | © www.exceptionalminerals.com |
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| 16 cm | © 2002 John H. Betts |
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| 5 cm | © Russell G. Rizzo |
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 86 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2009 05:37PM by David Von Bargen.
