Quartz, Sphalerite & Galena on Fluorite (Ross Lillie Coll.)

Item Description

A distinctive, sculptural and excellent old-time combination from this well-known Cave-in-Rock mine. According to economic mineralogist Allen V. Heyl, "The Deardorff mine was the specimen mine of the 1930's - 1950's. It closed in the early 1960's." Sparkly quartz crystals nearly envelope the 360-degree mounded specimen. A substantial compound sphalerite crystal crowns the piece and dramatically peers from underneath the quartz crystal cap. One side shows the quartz covering a light purple fluorite cube, that has embedded galena. Ex Ross Lillie Collection # 0674. Mined calculated in the 1940s or 50s and formerly in the Jim Dufoe Collection. Rare and excellent old combination material from this mine.