Specimen #565

Name: Benstonite on Calcite, on Fluorite

Type: Mineral

Locality: Minerva Mine, Cave-in-Rock District, Hardin County, Illinois, USA

Favorite? N

Fluorescent? N

Size: 15.4 x 12.2 x 11.9 cm

Weight: 1533

Acquired: 2008-03-06

Source: Arkenstone Auction

Label: Y

Comment: This is an OLD, unusual, very large specimen from Hardin County that is very uncommon to see on the market. What you have is these large, very spiky calcite scalenohedra (some of them do have tip cleaves), with a coating of whitish benstonite. The calcites have grown on a layer of teal-colored fluorite. Two layers of this fluorite sandwich a layer of brownish-yellow calcite. An old-timer! ex collection of gary Hansen, noted midwest dealer til 1980s, ex. Hansen coll.

Minerals: Benstonite ((Ba,Sr)₆(Ca,Mn)₆Mg(CO₃)₁₃) Calcite (CaCO₃) Fluorite (CaF₂)

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