Purple Fluorite with Sphalerite & Galena ~ Cave-in-Rock District, Illinois

Description

This wonderful deep purple fluorite specimen with sphalerite (zinc sulphide)/ galena (lead sulfide) comes to us from an old mineral collection that we were incredibly lucky to pick and choose from!  Due to the closure of all major Illinois fluorite mines in the 1990s, high-quality pieces are considered vintage and are highly sought after in the collector market.

Fluorite (calcium fluoride) forms almost always in cubes, less commonly as octahedrons, occasionally as globular masses. Its four perfect cleavage planes make cleaving of octahedrons possible. It is primarily used for the fluoridation of water and for toothpaste. Fluorite crystals can glow under ultraviolet rays, hence the word fluorescence. It forms in a great variety of colors—blue, violet, yellow, green, and rarely, pink. Recent discoveries in China of unusually large specimens have enabled artisans to create a variety of carvings that emphasize the inherent beauty of the deep purple, blue, and green banding. Nicknamed “the Genius Stone,” it is associated with the advancement of the mind, concentration, and comprehension.

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