FLUORITE WITH BARITE
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee
From the world-famous Elmwood Mine comes this classic specimen of barite on fluorite. The mine was first discovered in 1969 and worked primarily for zinc, but the underground chambers had far more astounding treasures to yield. Superb sphalerite, galena, barite and other world-class minerals were recovered, frequently in dramatic conjunction. The prize of the mine, however, is its fluorite: this is a typically fine combination specimen, the highly-textured, coral-like growths of creamy barite sitting atop an interlocking cluster of uncannily cubic fluorite crystals, delicately edged and dusted with purple but seeming to glow from within with a lovely pale yellow fire. A fine cabinet specimen from a classic locality, approximately 10 3/8 x 8 x 5 1/2 inches.