Sphalerite (excellent locality specimen)

Item Description

A wonderful and showy display specimen of Sphalerite from the famous Denton Mine in Southern Illinois. While this locality is best known for its superb Fluorites, fine crystallized specimens of Sphalerite like this are quite rare, especially with crystals in this size. The piece is features a predominant, sharp, lustrous, very dark reddish-brown ("Ruby Jack") crystal of Sphalerite measuring 3.7 cm with a secondary Sphalerite on the side and many additional little Sphalerites surrounding it, free no matrix. I can see a tiny bit of soft lilac colored Fluorite on the base of the piece. The back of the specimen is actually in part re-crystallized ("re-healed") where it detached from the pocket wall, making it nearly a complete "floater", though I can see a few small points of attachment, so it's not 100% crystallized all the way around. A really impressive example of these seldom seen specimens, which are now becoming remarkably hard to find on the market since the Denton Mine closed down. The piece comes from the collection of Ross Lillie (# RCL0818) who built the greatest single collection of minerals from Southern Illinois. I A great piece to add to your collection, especially if you collect Sphalerites, Southern Illinois specimens, or pieces with fine crystals. Valued in the inventory at $2,400. The piece comes with a FREE custom acrylic display base. BETTER IN PERSON than the video shows, it's a really good one for the locality.