Benstonite with Sphalerite and Fluorite

Item Description

Benstonite was one of the more rare species found in the historic USA Illinois fluorspar district. Specimens were very uncommon, and tended to go back aways, even before the mines closed in the late 1990s. This piece features clusters formed by stacked, 'poker chip' crystals of bone-white to light wheat-colored Benstonite. They average about 5 mm across, and the stacks are remarkably numerous across the matrix. There is minor associated Sphalerite and Fluorite, but it is the Benstonite that raises this aesthetic and rare piece to its high level of quality. Rare indeed for this material, it displays well! Seldom seen for sale anymore.