Fluorite (with dissolution pits), Minerva No. 1 Mine, Hardin County, Illinois

With a recent acquisition, Rocky Mountain Minerals now has a significant inventory of world-wide fluorites. In particular, we have a large assortment of fluorites from Hardin County, Illinois with spectacular colours and colour-zoning.

The most unique fluorite in our inventory is the specimen exhibiting three rare "dissolution pits" in the fluorite crystal faces. The rounded pits are thought to be from dissolved spheres of barite. They almost look man-made but are, in fact, natural and quite an interesting mineralogical feature (one pit is not photographed but can be seen in the video). Like most Illinois fluorites, this one is also quite attractive. The fluorite cluster shows classic yellow body colour with purple colour-zoning near the crystal edges. The naturally occurring acidic conditions that dissolved the barites also etched the fluorite faces giving them extra sparkle and interest. There is one nick on the top large crystal (near one of dissolution pits) but otherwise is in very good shape. There are a few tiny, scattered chalcopyrite crystals sprinkled on the specimen too. From the Garry Kolodinsky collection. From Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock district, Hardin County, Illinois. Dimensions: 7 cm x 10.5 cm