green Witherite

Item Description

For those of you who, like me, think we have seen it all from the Midwest's most famous mines, here is a highly unusual specimen of light green-yellow Witherite crystals from the Minerva No. 1 Mine in the Southern Illinois' historic Fluorspar district. Some of the best Witherites have originated from this prolific mine when it was in operation from the 1940s to the 1990s. This small cabinet-sized specimen is highlighted by a robust, thick fan of translucent light green Witherite with a yellowish tint, that measures 3.6 cm tall, 4.4 cm across and 3.3 cm in thickness. It is accompanied by several sheaf-like, columnar aggregates of a different crystal style of Witherite as well, these ranging in size from 1 to 2.5 cm in size. The Witherites are all perched on a thin substrate of purple Fluorite that is underlain by either Baryte or Witherite and some white Calcite. This is a very aesthetic and unusual piece from the district, with phenomenal display quality. The crystals are fully translucent. Shown are different photos showing it backlit strongly, not at all, and under ultraviolet light for fluorescence. This slight green color is thought to be due to the presence of minute nickel content. It is extremely rare, and in my life I have seen fewer than 5 good ones. This is an old specimen from the personal collection of St Louis-based, oldtime dealer Gary Hansen. Gary was a major dealer in this material in the time it was coming out. We sold it perhaps around 2006 and it has circled back around to us recently, a piece I always remembered. Recently, in the Dr Vasco Trancoso collection in Portugal for the last decade. Valued $5000-6000.