Fluorite on Sphalerite

Item Description

This is a really nice cluster of blue Fluorite from the Minerva No. 1 Mine in Illinois. Blue Fluorites like this one are not common from southern Illinois and this piece has a sublime, transparent, medium blue color with great luster! Crystal on this piece are from 1 to 3 cm across and are cubes, some showing some barely perceptible stepped growth features on their faces. They are so transparent, one can see all the way through them to the matrix underneath that consists mostly of Sphalerite and there must be some white Calcite as you can see this through the Fluorite crystals! And yes, the matrix is entirely coarsely crystalline massive, brown-red Sphalerite and it's really cool! It is in excellent condition, even around the periphery with only a couple of crystals showing compromised corners. Large, heavy, showy and colorful!