Illinois fluorite addiction? At this point, it’s probably beyond saving

Illinois fluorite addiction? At this point, it’s probably beyond saving…

What started as admiration has turned into a full-blown obsession with the legendary fluorites of Southern Illinois. There’s just something about the colors, zoning, luster, and history that keeps pulling me deeper down the rabbit hole.

From the electric blurple cubes of the Minerva No. 1 Mine and the rich honey-gold transitions of the Annabel Lee Mine, to the glassy gems from the Denton Mine and the countless treasures that came from the famous Cave-In-Rock Mining District, every locality tells its own story.

Some pieces glow with impossible purple saturation. Others display golden zoning, phantom growth, barite associations, chalcopyrite accents, or that unmistakable Illinois fluorescence collectors chase for decades.

The deeper I dive into Illinois fluorite, the more I realize this isn’t just collecting minerals—it’s preserving a piece of American mining history. Every specimen represents a chapter from one of the most important fluorite-producing regions the world has ever known.

And somehow, no matter how many Illinois fluorites find their way into the collection…

I’m always looking for the next one.

Denton Mine Annabel Lee Mine Minerva No. 1 Mine Cave-In-Rock Mining District Hardin County, Illinois

The addiction is real. The hunt continues.