Calcite with Fluorite, Barite

specimen number:
2062813

location:
28-70 #7 Stope, Elmwood Mine, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA

description:
Spectacular large combination piece from this prolific locality. The specimen shows amber colored glassy and absolute gem quality crystals of calcite to 12.0 cm in size set across a crystallized barite matrix. At the base of this is a large cubic purple translucent lustrous crystal of fluorite 5.3 cm on edge. Condition of this piece is as good as they will get. Collected by Brian Huntsman in July, 1998. A previous label comes with the specimen from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Located near Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee, the Elmwood Mine was discovered in the late 1960s and began full commercial zinc production in 1975. Geologically, it is a classic Mississippi Valley-type deposit hosted within ancient Ordovician carbonate rocks, where slow-moving, low-temperature mineralizing brines filled open cavities, dissolution voids, and collapse breccias. While operated primarily as an industrial underground zinc source through changing corporate ownership over the decades, the mine achieved global renown among mineral collectors for yielding world-class, exceptionally large crystals.

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