Tennessee Mineral Specimens

     

Tennessee has produced fluorites and calcites that will likely be ranked among the very finest ever produced in the United States.  We usually have some very fine examples available for sale.

 

 

OKH-762

Base...note fine translucence

OKH-762     Sphalerite (twin)    Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Tennessee.  Ex. Paul and Dawne Dunning Collection.  A fine, lustrous twin that is almost a floater (only very minor base attachment) that measures 2 x 2 x 1.5 cm.  Views well from any direction.  Very interesting and has no negatives at all.  Minor Styrofoam attachment   Minor quartz, crystals, on back and mild translucence.  $120

 

 

 

 

OKH-647

OKH-647     Fluorite    Elmwood, Tennessee.  Ex.  Paul and Dawne Dunning Collection.   This is a very aesthetic combination of lustrous, translucence sphalerites and a 1.2 cm purple fluorite cube.  The piece measures 4.6 x 3.6 x 2.2 cm.  The cube is transparent and its surface is modified by cubic overgrown.  The sphalerites has a couple minor scuffs otherwise very clean.  A great showy combination.  $145

 

 

 

 

OKH-628

OKH-628    Etched Fluorite Corner    Carthage, Tennessee.  Ex.  Paul and Dawne Dunning Collection.  I have owned and sold dozens of these over the years.  This may in fact be the nicest one that I have managed to get my hands on.  It measures 6.2 by 3.2 x 3.4 cm.  It is totally gem internally, shows zero damage, and only one small internal crack.  These are certainly not common any longer especially in this high quality.  $195

 

 

 

 

OKH-711

Back

Back

Close up of ding

OKH-711     Fluorite    Elmwood, Tennessee.  Ex.  Paul and Dawne Dunning Collection.  An outstanding example of this popular material that measures 6.5 x 5 x 3.6 cm.  It is gemmy internally with only a couple of internal fractures and a light purple color.  The backside surfaces of both the sphalerites and fluorite are healed.  One corner of the fluorite has a 2 mm ding that does not distract from the overall aesthetics of this fine specimen.  An excellent piece.  $350

 

 

 

 

 

OKI-487

OKI-487    Fluorite on Sphalerite    Carthage, Tennessee.  This 6.7 x 4 cm plate of sphalerite sports numerous small cubes and one nicer one measuring 1.7 cm on edge.  This is a very aesthetic specimen as so many from this locale are.  The faces on the cubes are slightly concave, a bit unusual, and are very translucent…more like transparent.  The surfaces are slightly etched yet still possess the highest of luster.   An extremely desirable miniature which the likes of are only becoming more and more difficult to find.  450$

 

 

 

 

 

OKI-488

OKI-488    Sphalerite    Carthage, Tennessee.  A fine dome of transparent crystals to almost 2 cm each.  The cluster is 7 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm overall.  It displays beautifully from every side.  It is entirely damage free and has as high a luster as one could expect for any specimen.  The sphaletites from this locale do not get better looking than this one.  Plenty of flash!  400$

 

 

 

 

OKI-175

Back

OKI-175    Sphaletite and Calcite    Carthage, Tennessee.  An attractive arrangement of crystals on a small section of gray limestone.  It measures 7.4 x 4.2 x 2.5 cm overall and is dominated by sphalerite crystals to over 2 cm each.  They are bright red and only translucent.  Amber colored double terminated calcites to a cm each are on the sides and base of piece.  No damage to sphalerite but there are a couple of minor contacts on edges.  Some of the calcites have damage but they are on back (base) of specimen.  Displays well, super high luster and lots of pop.  60$

 

 

 

 

OKF-141

OKF-141    Fluorite on Sphalerite with Barite    Carthage, Tennessee.  This fine large plate of damage free crystals measures 11 x 10 cm and is approximately 3 cm thick.  The very clusters give nice contrast to the darker sphalerites in purple fluorites.  The fluorites reach 1.2 cm on edge each and have nice deeper purple spot like inclusions unselected faces.  An excellent specimen for the locality.  $400

 

 

 

 

 

OKF-142

OKF-142    Fluorite on Sphalerite    Carthage, Tennessee.  A somewhat triangular specimen measuring 9.7 x 7 x 5 cm with light purple fluorites to 1.8 cm on edge each.  The fluorites of slightly curved faces an excellent form the largest pair sit high on the piece with greater than normal relief.  When the sphalerites near the top edge of specimen is cleaved otherwise the specimen is in great shape.  Nice high luster to all minerals and the piece displays well in several positions.  $300

 

 

 

 

 

OKF-132

OKF-132    Fluorite on Sphalerite    Carthage, Tennessee.  This specimen measures 8.9 x 6 x 3 .8 cm and stands on edge nicely for display.  The light purple cubes measure to 1.5 cm each and are nicely spaced amongst the gemmy sphalerite crystals.  There is peripheral damage and one small corner ding to the largest fluorite, thus the low price.  Still very attractive and desirable.  $100

 

 

 

 

OKF-037

OKE-037    Fluorite on Sphalerite   Carthage, Tennessee.  6.4 x 4.3 x 3.5 cm specimen which as all the aesthetics one could ask for.  4 cubes to 1.4 cm each are nicely dispersed on a lustrous sphalerite matrix.  One cube directly on edge is partially clipped.  Very displayable.  Top quality all the way.  325$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-065

OKD-065   Sphalerite on Quartz   Elmwood, Tennessee.  This is a large 28 x 22 cm plate of sphalerite crystals on a coating of micro quartz.  Great color contrast, high luster and nice distribution of crystals on the matrix.  Individual crystals to 4 cm in large groupings.  The guy who was in charge of mining out these pockets (closed mine now) described the pocket this specimen came from as such…’a huge pocket with plates of sphalerite, only, on micro quartz.  Approx 3,000 plates from fist sized to 3 feet in diameter lying loose in the bottom of the hole, most being damaged.’  This has no damage on face because it landed face up on the top of the heap.  All damage is on back of plate, along with some additional in tact sphalerites.  This is a wonderful display piece which is a must for any serious Elmwood collector who does not have one.  520$

 

OKA-430 Sphalerite / Quartz Smith County, Tennessee. This 8 x 5 cm matrix specimen has several large silver intergrown sphalerites with small whitish clear quartz crystals sprinkled over much of its surface. Nice luster, good form and attractive. 40$



OKA-766 Fluorite/ Sphalerite Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Tenn. Tiny but attractive piece is composed of a 3 x 3.5 cm sphalerite crystal (one). Beautifully formed 1 cm purple fluorite cube sits on top. 15$



OKA-767 Fluorite/ Calcite Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Tenn. Part of a light purple cube has 2 larger (to 2.5 cm) and numerous smaller scalenohedral, yellow calcites on its surface. Damage to edges of fluorite and one calcite. Small but attractive. 20$

 

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