Just home from the Franklin Show.
Jim's Gems was setup right across from us. He had a whole
20'x20' tent of nothing but Elmwood specimens.
I knew instictively and immediately that I needed to stay out of there
if I didn't want to spend alot of money.
I succumbed.
But rationalized my purchase by saying these were some nice specimens
of some of the material you don't often see.
Barite Snoballs on plates covered with translucent ruby Sphalerite
and, I must add, Ruby Jack.
Ruby Jack is the name given the high-grade crystal clear ruby sphalerites,
and many consider it to be a whole nother mineral. The sphalerite having more brown.
Indeed; the formula for Sphalerite, (Zn, Fe)S, allows for a wide range in zinc to iron content,
and the color of the sphalerite is a good indicator of how much iron is in the variety.
Sphalerite is the chief ore for zinc, so the purer the better.
Marmatite is the name for an opaque black variety and other names
are Zinc blende, Black Jack, and, ofcourse, Ruby Jack.
Wiki says some of the gemmier sphalerite from Franklin, NJ will fluoress yellow or blue.
These do not and turn the ultraviolet color of the longwave light.
The barite balls turn an orange-red much like calcite.
Here are some quick pics of the two pieces I "found".
The whole piece followed by a few close-ups.