Fluorite from the Illinois – Kentucky Fluorspar District

Fluorite

Fluorite – Calcium Fluoride – became an important mineral in the 1880s when it was found to be an ideal flux to purify molten iron. Since then, it has found thousands of other industrial uses. During World War II, miners and anyone associated with the fluorspar mining industry were not allowed to join the fight in Europe or the Pacific. They had to produce ore for the war effort. Anyone who slipped away to join the army were sent home to work the mines!

Fluorite occurs in many colors. In the district, shades of purple and yellow were most common in the bedding replacement deposits, while white and brown were common in the veins. Blue is well-documented and highly sought by collectors. Green was found in the Rose mine in Hick’s dome. I found pink crystals at Conn’s mine in Pope Co. In general, most fluorite doesn’t fluoresce in the fluorspar district, except from oil inclusions. Fluorite around Hick’s dome has enough rare earth elements so it glows bright blue!

Smoky blue fluorite with caliche from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Smoky blue fluorite with caliche from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Smoky blue fluorite from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Smoky blue fluorite from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Zoned fluorite cut to show white and purple inside, from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Zoned fluorite cut to show white and purple inside, from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

A chunk of fluorite cut to show blue and purple inside, from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — A chunk of fluorite cut to show blue and purple inside, from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Pink fluorite with cerussite and galena, from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. FOV ~2 cm — Pink fluorite with cerussite and galena, from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. FOV ~2 cm

Yellow fluorite from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Yellow fluorite from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Yellow cubes with a little purple. Back contains corroded crystals coated with tiny quartz needles. Conn's mine, collected in 1984. — Yellow cubes with a little purple. Back contains corroded crystals coated with tiny quartz needles. Conn’s mine, collected in 1984.

Purple over yellow fluorite, from Conn's mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Purple over yellow fluorite, from Conn’s mine, Pope Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Fluorite dusted with barite, old Austin Lead mine, Hastie's Quarries, Cave in Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Collected in 1983. — Fluorite dusted with barite, old Austin Lead mine, Hastie’s Quarries, Cave in Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Collected in 1983.

Fluorite cube cluster, old Austin Lead mine, Hastie's Quarries, Cave in Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984. — Fluorite cube cluster, old Austin Lead mine, Hastie’s Quarries, Cave in Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Collected in 1984.

Fluorite matrix specimen cut with a diamond saw showing crystalline fluorite and a seam of barite on the back. Collected October 26, 1984 from the dump on the north side of the old Austin mine.

Fluorite with iridescent goethite (iron hydroxide) coating. Old Austin Lead mines, collected in 1984. FOV ~ 2 cm

Bitumen coating lustrous amber fluorite cubes. Old Austin Lead mine.

Purple over yellow fluorite surrounded by shale. Oxford Cut, Collected summer, 1987.

Mass of purple fluorite crystals protected by wet clay when found. Oxford Cut, Collected summer, 1987.

Large purple fluorite crystals protected by wet clay when found. Oxford Cut, Collected summer, 1987.

Fluorite chip showing "Mercedes" pattern on the corner axis. — Fluorite chip showing “Mercedes” pattern on the corner axis.

Diamond drill cores on solid fluorite found in Allied Chemical Co. core dump by Victory mine shaft.

Fluorite octahedra chipped by Alan. A small part of his octahedron collection.

**Ben E. Clement Museum Fluorites**

Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum Specimens

Backlit fluorite octahedra at the Clement Mineral Museum

Yellow fluorite with chalcopyrite. Specimen 2039.

Fluorite with a fluorescent phantom of petroleum inclusions. Clement Mineral Museum specimen.

Fluorite crystal shown above under normal light, blue over yellow.

Complicated purple fluorite crystal cluster. No mine information available.

ext: This fluorite specimen is a gem in the field of gems was probably found before 1919 (before I [Ben Clement] came in Ky. Mr. [Edwin] Reed[er] was great [mine] engineer and a man with a love of minerals - my first desire to collect and my inspiration came from Eng. Redd[er]. He had a fine family always good to me for which I was grateful. See this specimen in sunlight.

Text: This fluorite specimen is a gem in the field of gems was probably found before 1919 (before I [Ben Clement] came in Ky. Mr. [Edwin] Reed[er] was great [mine] engineer and a man with a love of minerals – my first desire to collect and my inspiration came from Eng. Redd[er]. He had a fine family always good to me for which I was grateful. See this specimen in sunlight.

Alan’s comments: This specimen looks like the Benzon mine (Cave in Rock) fluorite I saw at the Smithsonian in 1988. (Though smaller.) Benzon mine was at the current location of the Hastie’s mines, and may have included the Austin Lead, Oxford Cut, Cleveland, and Green-Defender mines.

I was given historical photos of the fluorspar district by Edwin Reeder’s great niece in the late 1980s. She took a ‘Geology of Kentucky’ class I taught. Edwin Reeder was killed in an automobile accident in Cave in Rock in 1931. He was never married and had no children.

Edwin Reeder photo of the Rosiclare mill complex in 1919.

Squire Riley fluorite carvings in the Clement Mineral Museum collection.