Ross Lillie Collection of Illinois Minerals
July 13, 2016 - We are honored to present more updates (and a teaser for showcases at Munich, Denver & Tucson) of specimens from the collection of geologist Ross C. Lillie. He worked in the mines in Southern Illinois, inspired by the beauty of the specimens he was introduced to, and becoming a dealer and then a collector of the treasures of this important district. We purchased the vast bulk of this collection of Illinois minerals which was assembled in the glory days of Illinois mining (1900 specimens out of 2200). He had kept the collection sacrosanct for decades as the mines closed, prices rose, and dealers fought for the collections that had been made in the good old days. Many of the specimens note the date of mining, and specific locations to a degree that other dealers and collectors could never provide. This is the last, biggest, and most comprehensive of those collections built in the 1970s-1990s. Because of Ross' unprecedented access to the mines and the miners, and his scientific interest in the geology of the district, he was able to assemble a collection showcasing the breadth of the deposits in a way that few dreamed of. He aimed to have a specimen of each style and pocket. He sought to document the extent of diversity in these mines, rather than to just buy the most expensive or flashy pieces, and you will see that philosophy of acquisition represented in this offering. We are proud to begin offering part of the collection online and at shows for the next few years. Prepared by Jeff Starr and Wally Mann.
- RLIL16A-53
- Fluorite (fl) and Chalcopyrite with Calcite
- Rosiclare Level, Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 10.3 x 8.4 x 4.8 cm
- RLIL16A-52
- Calcite with Fluorite and Sphalerite
- A. L. Davis Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 11.0 x 8.2 x 5.9 cm
- RLIL16A-51
- Strontianite and Calcite on Fluorite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 10.3 x 6.9 x 6.5 cm
- RLIL16A-48
- Sphalerite on Fluorite, with Chalcopyrite
- Rosiclare Level, Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 5.7 x 4.9 x 4.4 cm
- RLIL16A-46
- Fluorite with sharp phantoms
- Sub-Rosiclare Level, Annabel Lee Mine, Harris Creek District, Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 7.5 x 5.1 x 3.1 cm
- RLIL16A-45
- Baryte (fl) on Fluorite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 13.1 x 8.5 x 5.7 cm
- RLIL16A-44
- Fluorite (fl) on Sphalerite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 8.2 x 6.7 x 4.7 cm
- RLIL16A-43
- Calcite (twinned) on Fluorite
- Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 8.2 x 6.1 x 6.0 cm
- RLIL16A-41
- Fluorite on Sphalerite
- Bethel Level, Annabel Lee Mine, Harris Creek District, Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 9.3 x 7.4 x 4.2 cm
- RLIL16A-40
- Calcite (fl) with Fluorite and Sphalerite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 8.3 x 5.3 x 4.2 cm
- RLIL16A-39
- Fluorite with Calcite (fl)
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 11.8 x 9.3 x 7.3 cm
- TUC16X-38
- Fluorite with Baryte
- Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 7.1 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm
- RLIL16A-37
- Fluorite (unusual naturally rounded style)
- Rosiclare Level, Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Large Cabinet
- 15.6 x 6.4 x 3.7 cm
- RLIL16A-36
- Calcite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 13.0 x 10.1 x 8.4 cm
- TUC16X-35
- Fluorite
- Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Large Cabinet
- 19.0 x 6.5 x 4.6 cm
- RLIL16A-34
- Fluorite (fl) on Baryte with inclusions
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 8.0 x 6.1 x 5.6 cm
- RLIL16A-33
- Fluorite (fluorescent)
- Bethel Level, Annabel Lee Mine, Harris Creek District, Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 9.7 x 7.2 x 6.5 cm
- RLIL16A-32
- Fluorite and Calcite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 7.6 x 7.1 x 6.2 cm
- RLIL16A-31
- Calcite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 9.3 x 6.1 x 4.1 cm
- RLIL16A-30
- Fluorite with Baryte
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 6.8 x 5.8 x 4.7 cm
- RLIL16A-28
- Fluorite with Chalcopyrite and radiation-induced spots
- Rosiclare Level, Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 13.1 x 5.8 x 4.8 cm
- RLIL16A-29
- Calcite (DT, twinned)
- Rosiclare Level, Denton Mine, Harris Creek, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 9.3 x 4.1 x 3.2 cm
- RLIL16A-26
- Fluorite (fl) and Calcite (fl)
- Bethel Level, Annabel Lee Mine, Harris Creek District, Illinois, USA
- Cabinet
- 12.5 x 11.0 x 5.0 cm
- RLIL16A-27
- Strontianite (fl) on Baryte on Fluorite
- Rosiclare Level, Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
- Small Cabinet
- 9.1 x 7.1 x 5.4 cm