Fluorite with Sphalerite

specimen number:
2092190

location:
Elmwood complex, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA

description:
Aesthetic specimen with gemmy lustrous purple crystals of fluorite to 2.2 cm on edge perched on a crystallized black sphalerite matrix. This is in terrific condition. An aesthetic miniature.

The Middle Tennessee Zinc District, specifically the Elmwood and Gordonsville operations, is renowned for its diverse mineralogy where deep purple fluorite is the most prevalent and iconic variety. Geologically, these crystals formed within the Ordovician Knox Group as hydrothermal fluids deposited minerals into brecciated limestone and dolomite solution-collapse structures. The fluorite typically occurs as sharp, highly lustrous cubes with a saturated purple to nearly black-violet color. Historically, the district gained international fame starting in the 1970s as miners recovered world-class specimens characterized by these vibrant purple cubes perched on dark, metallic sphalerite. While the mines have faced various operational pauses since the 1990s due to fluctuating zinc markets, they remain active producers of these aesthetic masterpieces. Today, the deep purple fluorite from Middle Tennessee is considered a standard for the species, celebrated for its geometric perfection and the striking contrast it provides against white barite and golden calcite.

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