Witherite on Fluorite
Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock District, Illinois
7.1 cm x 6.7 cm x 4.4 cm, 160.2 g
Here is a very special specimen of Witherite with Fluorite.
This specimen is very heavily etched all around except for one area on the bottom where blue fluorite appears to be the original point of contact.
The whitish colored crystals stand out against the colors of the fluorite. The Witherite is very translucent.
The largest area of witherite shows what looks like stacked crystals.
There is a vug on the bottom that reveals more witherite within the specimen.
Besides the heavily etched fluorite also appear to have etched calcites on the back side as well.
The entire specimen has fluorescence, the witherite being the brightest white in longwave UV and the fluorite all has a blue fluorescence and the calcite is a paler white.
Some of the witherite has a pale pinkish color and blue color but only at the very edges of the etched crystals.
The specimen sits well for display on its own.
Come with an original label stating the identification was confirmed using Emission Spectroscopy I.R., back in 1978.
