Fluorite on Sphalerite with Calcite (ex Ross Lillie Collection)

Item Description

A beautiful association specimen from Southern Illinois featuring many sharp, lustrous, well-formed GEMMY, "phantom" cubes of purple Fluorite measuring up to 1.3 cm on edge sitting on a matrix of crystallized "ruby jack" Sphalerite with a few jewel-like doubly-terminated soft golden colored Calcite scalenohedra. One of the Calcites has a very interesting secondary crystallized overgrowth, giving it the appearance an insect emerging from a chrysalis. I love how there are slight reddish flashes that are reflected from the Sphalerites inside of the Fluorite cubes. The piece is in wonderful shape with only a few imperfections around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket. From the famous collection of southern Illinois minerals of Ross Lillie (#RCL 1085). The label accompanying the piece states that it was collected in July of 1983 in the "Center drift of orebody. Pocket approx size of two softballs". Priced at $850.