Fluorite on Sphalerite - Elmwood Mine DS515

Fluorite on Sphalerite
Approx. Dimensions: 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.75 inches
Approx. Weight: 158 grams
Locality: Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee

Acrylic base and putty not included, but can be purchased in our Stands, Mounts, and Accessories section.

Several purple fluorite cubes sit atop a matrix of sphalerite on this lovely specimen from the Elmwood Mine. The cubes on this piece are very interesting, as their corners seem to flare upward, rather than keeping on a flat plane. They are fairly saturated with color, but can still be backlit to show the color zoning toward the edges of the cubes (last photo).

Part of a zinc occurrence first discovered in 1969, the Elmwood Mine was first operated in 1975. It closed in 2004 due to the mine owner company's closure, but reopened in 2010 under new operators. Elmwood has produced world class specimens of calcite and fluorite, as well as barite and sphalerite. Sadly, the mine was closed once again at the end of December, 2023.