My Illinois fluorite obsession has officially become a full-blown addiction

My Illinois fluorite obsession has officially become a full-blown addiction…

Every time I tell myself I have enough, another cube shows up with crazier zoning, better luster, sharper edges, or that impossible blurple-to-honey glow that only Illinois seems to produce. And somehow, there’s always room for one more.

Denton, Minerva, Annabel Lee, Hill-Ledford, Lead Hill, Victory… each mine has its own personality, its own color palette, and its own story. The deeper I get into Illinois fluorite, the more I realize there is no finish line—just better specimens, rarer associations, and endless opportunities to upgrade.

The combination of electric purples, golden ambers, phantom growth, chalcopyrite, barite, and those iconic razor-sharp cubes is simply impossible for me to resist.

What started as collecting has become a genuine passion. The hunt, the history, the provenance, the colors, the friendships made along the way—it’s all part of the addiction.

And honestly… I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Southern Illinois fluorite forever.