The Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District not only produced industrial grade fluorspar, but provided the world with some of the great treasures of the mineralogical kingdom. Denton mine is one of the big name localities, famous for beautiful colourful cubic crystals, but the most sought after crystals are those with internal colour zoning. This huge individual cubic crystal, at 8.5 x 8.4 cm front on, and up to 5 cm front to back, is not only dramatic in size, but makes a massive statement when backlit. There is a little chipping to the area either side of one corner, but the natural undulating stepping to the cubic faces, and the lizard-skin surface texture to the Fluorite means that these imperfections do not stand out significantly against the overall dramatic appearance of this monster-sized crystal. At the end where the chipping is present the crystal is joined by a cluster of smaller (to 2.5 cm on edge) cubic crystals. Whichever direction you look through the main crystal the zoning is insane, with a purple internal cube, itself zoned from almost black in its centre to pale and then deep purple. Surrounding this a wide (2 cm) pale sky blue band, but containing many darker, to almost electric blue lines extends outwards to a dark purple outer edge layer. Small golden Chalcopyrite crystals are concentrated on one side of the main Fluorite cube and across a few of the small Fluorite crystals. A seriously impressive Denton mine Fluorite which will provide a colourful impact to any cabinet.
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