FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Frank Perry]

Purchased this Fluorite today at a "crystal" shop and labeled as Fluorite with Calcite and locale given as Mexico. Inquired if they had any better location information or could narrow it down a little and was told they had no further information on it. Was hesitant to purchase just because of no good location information, but I liked it and went ahead with the purchase.

As seen in the pictures, this is a zoned purple fluorite (largest crystal is 25 mm on edge) partially coated with numerous small (1-2 mm) calcite crystals. It is attached to a bit of sphalerite matrix with a small number of very small chalcopyrite crystals.

Did a web search for fluorite on sphalerite from Mexico and came up with nothing similar. The fluorites that appear to be most similar are those from Hardin County, Illinois, US or the Elmwood Mine in Tennessee US. I have to wonder a little bit if this specimen was mis-labeled as Mexico

Can anyone shed any light or have opinions on where this fluorite might be from?

Thanks,

Frank

[Tobi]

Hi Frank,

I think you are right with your doubts. This specimen looks like a typical fluorite on brownish sphalerite from Elmwood Mine, Tennessee ...

Regards
Tobi

[James Catmur]

I agree

Regards

James

[Frank Perry]

I think Elmwood is correct. I found a couple of examples online that have the small calcite crystals of the same habit, although not the same dense coverage in places as this one.

Thanks for your help with this.

Frank