Hill-Ledford Mine, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois

The color of this Fluorite is the dark purple color with red overtones characteristic of this mine and some times referred to as wine colored. The color was very difficult to photograph, the third photo is the closest. The lagest crystals only show color on the edges and are so dark as to appear black (but are actually purple). There are much smaller crystals on the bottom of the specimen of a lighter hue with some light amber color showing through from another layer of Fluorite below them. There is also some micro, white, druze Quartz on the top of the specimen. The mine was closed in the late 1960s. When some of the mines in the Cave-In-Rock region were reopened in the 1980s, millions of gallons of water had to be pumped out because all of the mines in the region were interconnected with the exception of the Hill-Ledford which remained flooded. This specimen has suffered from some damage with some wear on the crystal edges and a chunk is missing from the corner of the main crystal. The price has been adjusted to reflect this damage. Still a nice specimen from a long closed mine.

From the Don Langham collection

13.5 x 10.1 x 5 cm

Sold Specimen retained as part of the Minerals Sold But Not Forgotten Galleries