Color-zoned Fluorite w/ Calcite (rare locale) Ross Lillie Coll.

Item Description

An impressive and RARE large two-sided combination from this well-known extinct Illinois fluorite mine. The front of the sculptural piece is dramatically covered with intergrown large fluorite cubes, to 5.0 cm. The gemmy/translucent yellow-green cubes have striking pretty lavender edge phantoms accented with nifty satin lustre stepped-growth faces. The front of the piece is pristine. Unusual and rare translucent rounded bi-colored calcite rhombs with tan interiors and white edges cover the back of the piece. "The Deardorff mine was the original attributed location here, according to the Ross Lillie label # 0609. VERY RARE large fluorite and calcite material of this style from this locale - and even MORE rare from the REAL locality ! see below for added clarification. Valued at $1500-2000 when we thought it was from Deardorff, but certainly more interesting now that Ross has chimed in and relabelled it as a Gaskins Mine piece. A MUST for the species or locality collector.

NOTE ADDED FROM ROSS LILLIE WHEN SEEING THIS, JULY 7TH: 

RCL0609 shows strong fluorescence. As such, the attributed location should be changed (I.E. HIS ORIGINAL LABEL WAS WRONG AND CORRECTED IN LIGHT OF THE FLUORESCENCE). In my database I indicated that the Deardorff mine was attributed based on color of the fluorite and color and morphology of the calcite. However, as a caveat, I also mentioned that if the specimen showed fluorescence, it should be attributed to the Gaskins mine. I would recommend, providing there is time to make an update, to update the location. If there is not time to changer the text, whomever is the winning bidder is free to contact me for an updated locality recommendation.

Gaskins Mine attr.

Allied Chemical Corporation attr.

Empire sub-district attr.

Pope County attr.

Southern Illinois