[b]First edition, Rock Currier July 2012[/b] Click here to view [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-96.html][b]Best Minerals Fluorite[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-72.html][b]Best Minerals F[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?tab=65][b]Best Minerals A to Z[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/mesg-63-159134.html][b]Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles[/b].[/url] Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities? [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]CaF[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [pic id=218009 width=800 float=left]Fluorite, Germany, Black Forest, Wolfach, Clara Mine 4.5 cm wide.[/pic] Here will go some general comments about German Fluorites. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Schwarzwald, Waldshut, Witznau, Schlüchttal[/b] [pic id=359152 width=395 float=left]Fluorite 6cm wide[/pic][pic id=223441 width=415 float=center]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Haslach, Schnellingen, Segen Gottes Mine (Gottes Segen Mine; Gottessegen Mine)[/b] [pic id=3106 width=400 float=left]Fluorite ?cm[/pic] [pic id=446283 width=410 float=center]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Haslach, Steinach, Artenberg quarry[/b] [pic id=414273 width=405 float=left]Fluorite & Calcite 12cm wide[/pic] [pic id=414272 width=405 float=center]Fluorite & Calcite 10cm wide[/pic] Quartz-Calcite veins in gneiss rock. This was the best location for large fluorite octahedrons in the whole black forest. Green crystals of up to 10 cm have been found there, sitting on white calcite and looking very very attractive. Smaller crystals in blue and grey were also found, but green was the predominant color. These fluorites also have another nice feature - they fluoresce quite well. Most other black forest fluorites exhibit a rather dull fluorescence. Also a lot of the crystals have a rather "etched" looking surface composed of little fluorite cubes. Other associated minerals were quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite and other sulfides. Though the quarry is still active there has been no fluorite find for quite some time as the part of the quarry with the fluorite mineralization is currently not in use. When the fluorites were found some local collectors used to claim the best spots and tried to keep other people away - even by threat of violence. Good calcite crystals and some of the associated ore mineralization can still be found. Permission of access is required. Since the "Naturkundemuseum Freiburg" was changed to the "Naturmuseum" and the mineral collection display there was sacrificed almost completely (shame on them) the only place I know to display Artenberg Fluorites is the Minerlienmuseum in Wolfach, near the famous Clara mine. [Holger Klapproth 2011] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Münstertal, Belchen Mt., Teufelsgrund Mine[/b] [pic id=178764 width=310 float=left]Fluorite 5.2cm tall[/pic] [pic id=414290 width=495 float=center]Fluorite 9cm wide[/pic] [pic id=496100 width=405 float=center]Fluorite & Baryte 7cm wide[/pic] Teufelsgrund ("Devils Ground" ) is an abandoned Silver/Fluorite Mine in the southern Black Forest. The mine exploited several mineralized veins, with Schindler vein and Teufelsgrund vein maybe being the most important ones. The oldest record of mining on these veins is from 1512 ! - but carbon dating of a peace of charcoal fould in one of the workings reveled that mining started a lot earlier - the piece was dated to around the year 950. The mine closed in 1958 due to low Fluorite prices. It was reopened as a visitors mine some years ago and is well worth visiting. The Fluorites from this mine are really amazing. Starting with cubes and extra faces on the edges the crystals "transform" to rhombic dodecahedrons, hexoctahedrons to almost spherical structures with 282 faces (see Extra Lapis 4, Fluorite p. 72ff.). Whereas cubic crystals could reach the size of 5 cm and more the more complex crystals are rather small (mms) but make out he special magic of these pieces. Especially water clear hexakis octahedrons growing on marcasite are very famous and can be found in several museum collections. Though these crystals are tiny they can still be found on the old dumps - and is worth digging for them. The larger crystals are quite often pinkish to purple but other colors were also reported. The smaller, water clear crystals mostly have no color at all. After its closure the mine was the used by mineral collectors to collect very beautiful specimens. This even included the use of explosives - and a really nasty accident happened. Now this is the story how I was told it: Two guys had themselves locked in underground and put some charges in place. As they did not explode as expected one of these guys went to have a look and got hit by the blast. He barely survived and was seriously wounded. Now as they were locked in the only way out was use the rest of the explosives to blast the entrance door open. They made it and the wounded person survived though he lost some fingers and had his eyes damaged. As dealing with explosives and damaging other peoples property is a serious offense these guys also faced criminal charges - but the court showed mercy and the verdict was rather mild. [Holger Klapproth 2011] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Schenkenzell, Kaltbrunn, Ilse Mine[/b] [pic id=88005 width=410 float=left]Fluorite 6.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=3044 width=400 float=center]Fluorite ?cm[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Schenkenzell, Wittichen, Heubach Valley, Anton Mine (St. Anton Mine) [pic id=445867 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & Pyrite 10cm wide[/pic] Grube Anton is a rather rare locality. There is a lot of Tannenboden Mine stuff on the market but very little good material from Anton. This one I bought a few years ago from a local mineral dealer who specialices in buying old collection and selling the better pieces on mineral shows. I now live in Black Forest since 1997, but this is the first good specimen from that mine I was able to get my hands on. The coating with pyrite is a bit unusual for Wieden, but could be confirmed by comparison with similar specimens. A pity these mines are closed now. Imagine all the wonderful specimens that came out there in the 1950s and 60s. [Holger Klapproth 2012] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Schenkenzell, Wittichen, Burgfelsen, Johann Mine[/b] [pic id=168841 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 5cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Todtnau, Brandenberg Mine[/b] [pic id=173823 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 4.6cm tall[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine[/b] [pic id=12624 width=429 float=left]Fluorite 9cm wide[/pic] [pic id=251607 width=381 float=center]Fluorite 15.3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=15383 width=395 float=left]Fluorite 9.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=120144 width=415 float=center]Fluorite 10.3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=355629 width=420 float=left]Fluorite 13cm wide[/pic] [pic id=401638 width=393 float=center]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [pic id=191353 width=412 float=left]1.4mm Fluorite on matrix[/pic][pic id=96730 width=403 float=center]Fluorite FOV 2mm[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Bavaria, Franconia, Fichtelgebirge, Tröstau, Zufurt Quarry (Zufuhrt Quarry)[/b] [pic id=113780 width=390 float=left]Fluorite ~12cm wide[/pic] [pic id=115343 width=420 float=center]Fluorite 20cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Bavaria, Franconia, Fichtelgebirge, Weißenstadt, Kirchenlamitz, Epprechtstein Mt.[/b] [pic id=113767 width=433 float=left]Fluorite ~5.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=180772 width=380 float=center]Fluorite Fluorite 2.4cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, Schwandorf, Wölsendorf Fluorite mining District[/b] [pic id=224957 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 13cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, Schwandorf, Wölsendorf Fluorite mining District, Wölsendorf East District (Wölsendorf - Nabburg District), Marienschacht Mine[/b] [pic id=18599 width=357 float=left]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [pic id=69123 width=454 float=center]Fluorite 11.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=149943 width=423 float=left]Fluorite 7.8cm wide[/pic] [pic id=149944 width=390 float=center]Fluorite [/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, Schwandorf, Wölsendorf Fluorite mining District, Wölsendorf West District (Wölsendorf - Schmidgaden District)[/b] [pic id=58139 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 12cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Lower Saxony, Harz Mts, St Andreasberg District, St Andreasberg, Samson Mine[/b] [pic id=93986 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 6cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Rhineland-Palatinate, Eifel Mts, Laach lake volcanic complex[/b] [pic id=74534 width=405 float=left]Fluorite FOV 4mm[/pic] [pic id=95158 width=405 float=center]Fluorite FOV 3mm[/pic] [pic id=74537 width=405 float=left]Fluorite FOV 3mm[/pic] [pic id=97353 width=405 float=center]Fluorite ball with Sanidine FOV 2mm[/pic] [pic id=103445 width=405 float=left]Fluorite with dendrite FOV3mm [/pic] [pic id=103449 width=405 float=center]Fluorite FOV 6mm[/pic] [pic id=103450 width=400 float=center]Fluorite Fluorite FOV 4mm[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Rhineland-Palatinate, Eifel Mts, Mayen, Ettringen, Ettringer Bellerberg Mt.[/b] [pic id=112732 width=400 float=left]Fluorite FOV 1.5mm[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Rhineland-Palatinate, Hunsrück Mts, Idar-Oberstein, Niederwörresbach, Juchem Quarry[/b] [pic id=222602 width=400 float=left]Fluorite Fluorite FOV 7cm[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony-Anhalt, Harz Mts, Stolberg[/b] [pic id=189230 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 6cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony-Anhalt, Harz Mts, Stolberg, Rottleberode[/b] [pic id=213364 width=405 float=left]Fluorite 12cm wide[/pic] [pic id=371968 width=405 float=center]Fluorite 9.1cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony-Anhalt, Harz Mts, Stolberg, Rottleberode, Flußschacht Mine[/b] [pic id=363819 width=429 float=left]Fluorite 4.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=406965 width=381 float=center]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Chemnitz, Frankenberg, Euba[/b] [pic id=17006 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & Quartz FOV 5cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Chemnitz, Hilbersdorf[/b] [pic id=119189 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & petrified wood 6cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz[/b] [pic id=179472 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 12.7cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz, Dörfel, Dörfel Quarry (Bögl Quarry)[/b] [pic id=16588 width=492 float=left]Fluorite 2.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=16771 width=315 float=center]1cm Fluorite on Quartz[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz, Frohnau[/b] [pic id=16551 width=396 float=left]Fluorite & Quartz 2cm wide[/pic] [pic id=16549 width=414 float=center]Fluorite & Quartz FOV 2cm wide[/pic] [pic id=96258 width=390 float=center]Fluorite 3.8cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz, Frohnau, Bergmännisch Glück Flacher vein[/b] [pic id=222097 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 7cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg District, Annaberg-Buchholz, Frohnau, Schreckenberg hill, Malwine Shaft (Shaft 29)[/b] [pic id=339832 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & Barite 6cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz, Frohnau, Shaft 78[/b] [pic id=222100 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 4.5cm tall[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Annaberg-Buchholz, Frohnau, Zehntausend Ritter Mine[/b] [pic id=174888 width=425 float=left]Fluorite ~4.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=17815 width=385 float=center]Fluorite ?cm[/pic] [pic id=12790 width=308 float=left]Fluorite 7.5cm tall[/pic] [pic id=73894 width=503 float=center]Fluorite ~6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=83007 width=414 float=left]Fluorite 4.2cm wide[/pic] [pic id=135874 width=401 float=center]Fluorite & Barite 4cm wide[/pic] [pic id=174886 width=414 float=left]Fluorite 5.8cm wide[/pic] [pic id=83006 width=405 float=center]Fluorite 4.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=358669 width=430 float=left]Fluorite 8cm wide[/pic] [pic id=369958 width=380 float=center]Fluorite 7cm wide[/pic] [pic id=263919 width=330 float=left]Fluorite 10cm tall[/pic] [pic id=174888 width=484 float=center]Fluorite 6cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Breitenbrunn District, Antonsthal, Tannenbaum Mine[/b] [pic id=137433 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 6.9cm tall[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] Saxony, Saxony, Breitenbrunn District, Rittersgrün [pic id=49237 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 7.9cm tall[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Breitenbrunn District, Rittersgrün, Kaffenberg[/b] [pic id=100725 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & Marcasite 6cm tall[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] Saxony, Erzgebirge, Ehrenfriedersdorf, Sauberg Mine [pic id=12800 width=450 float=left]Fluorite, Siderite & Chalcopyrite 4.2cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Freiberg District[/b] [pic id=130884 width=418 float=left]Fluorite 6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=132702 width=391 float=center]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [pic id=119823 width=409 float=left]Fluorite 12.6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=171939 width=398 float=center]Fluorite 8.4cm wide[/pic] [pic id=179561 width=404 float=center]Fluorite 10.7cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Freiberg District, Halsbrücke[/b] [pic id=140753 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 3.4cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Freiberg District, Halsbrücke, Beihilfe Mine[/b] [pic id=6548 width=397 float=left]Fluorite 11cm wide[/pic] [pic id=16121 width=413 float=center]Fluorite & Chalcopyrite 15cm wide[/pic] [pic id=16122 width=421 float=left]Fluorite 8cm tall[/pic] [pic id=55717 width=375 float=center]Fluorite & Quartz 12 cm tall[/pic] [pic id=464675 width=400 float=center]Fluorite 12.7cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Freiberg District, Roßwein, Gersdorf[/b] [pic id=189284 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 8cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Glashütte, Johnsbach[/b] [pic id=16751 width=400 float=left]Fluorite, Barite & Quartz 19cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Marienberg District[/b] [pic id=96057 width=410 float=left]Fluorite & Barite 8.9cm wide[/pic] [pic id=96256 width=398 float=center]Fluorite & Quartz 5.7cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schwarzenberg District, Beierfeld, Gelbe Birke Mine[/b] [pic id=179560 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 9.5cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schwarzenberg District, Pöhla[/b] [pic id=134437 width=400 float=left]Fluorite 3.5cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Vogtland, Oelsnitz, Bösenbrunn[/b] [pic id=96056 width=294 float=left]Fluorite 3.7cm tall[/pic] [pic id=48174 width=510 float=center]Fluorite & Calcite FOV 4.5cm[/pic] [pic id=48450 width=401 float=left]Fluorite 6.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=263761 width=406 float=center]Fluorite 6.3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=177903 width=448 float=left]Fluorite 6.9cm wide[/pic] [pic id=385241 width=360 float=center]Fluorite 4.1cm wide[/pic] The mineralization is similar to that of the Fluorites from Schönbrunn Glockenpöhl quarry a vein with light blue cubes up to several cm. [Sebastian Möller 2011] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Vogtland, Zobes-Bergen District[/b] [pic id=411674 width=400 float=left].7cm Fluorite xl on matrix[/pic] Good honey-brown cubes, often covered with pyrite. [Sebastian Möller 2011] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Vogtland, Oelsnitz, Schönbrunn, Ludwig-Vereinigt-Feld Mine[/b] [pic id=190300 width=405 float=left]Fluorite on Siderite 11cm wide[/pic] [pic id=190301 width=405 float=center]Fluorite & Siderite UV image of left[/pic] [pic id=48662 width=400 float=center]Fluorite & Quartz 12cm wide[/pic] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany[/b] [b]Saxony, Vogtland, Schönbrunn, Patriot Mine[/b] This mine produces specimens of Fluorite with several generations: violet octahedrons up to several cm with quartz and orthoclase (var. Paradoxite); white to yellow octahedral xls with carved edges (so-called Ochsenaugen (bull's eyes)); cubes with calcite). [Sebastian Möller 2009] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]Germany & Czech Republic[/b] [b]Saxony & Ústí Region (Bohemia; Böhmen; Boehmen), Krusné Hory Mts, Erzgebirge; Cínovec / Zinnwald (Cinvald)[/b] [pic id=181938 width=400 float=left]Fluorite & Quartz 7.3cm tall[/pic] Click here to view [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-96.html][b]Best Minerals Fluorite[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-72.html][b]Best Minerals F[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?tab=65][b]Best Minerals A to Z[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/mesg-63-159134.html][b]Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles[/b].[/url] [b]First edition, Rock Currier July 2012[/b] http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,130567#msg-130567 Tue, 21 May 2013 16:15:08 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,275564#msg-275564 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,275564#msg-275564 That one is good enough. I have added it to the article.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:07:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,275560#msg-275560 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,275560#msg-275560

Fluorite Teufelsgrund, 7x5 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 04 Nov 2012 19:45:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265318#msg-265318 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265318#msg-265318
your help with smoothing out my English is most appreciated.]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:32:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265167#msg-265167 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265167#msg-265167 Ill look forward to see what you write about German fluorite specimens. If you think you can add information about any of the fluorite localities we have in the article, please feel free to write about them as well. If you wish, I can help smooth out any of the English.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:54:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265158#msg-265158 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265158#msg-265158
If this has time till after my summer vacation I would gladly take that job. At the end of the summer term my life is rather busy as I have some teaching duties next to my normal job.

Best Regards


Holger]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:38:03 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265045#msg-265045 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,265045#msg-265045 Thanks for the help and suggestions. I have made some updates and fixes in the article. I still need someone to write an introduction to German fluorite specimens.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:40:41 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,264996#msg-264996 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,264996#msg-264996

I agree with your doubts, but there were similar specimens from Teufelsgrund. Maybe the best way to check would be to look at the fluorescence. Weardale Fluorite fluoresces a lot - the Black Forest ones only a little.]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:53:49 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,261776#msg-261776 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,261776#msg-261776 www.mindat.org]

I have some doubts on the locality of this specimen. Looks like a Weardale fluorite to me.]]> Peter Haas Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 26 May 2012 02:06:26 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260843#msg-260843 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260843#msg-260843
With best regards,

Thomas]]> Thomas Uhlig Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 15 May 2012 19:23:25 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260731#msg-260731 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260731#msg-260731
I have a very similar specimen, several pictures of it are in the gallery for the Beihilfe Mine, and it's labeled as being from the Samuelspat vein.

Best Regards,
Leon.]]> Leon Hupperichs Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 14 May 2012 13:19:52 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260723#msg-260723 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,260723#msg-260723
Fantastic article, thanks to all contributors.

This is maybe not the right place to post this question but as it is about a German fluorite, I can't be completely wrong either.

Yesterday I posted a specimen I have since 1983 from the Bleihilfe mine.

© Paul De Bondt 2012

By looking at other specimens of this kind, I saw that 2 localities are given , the Samuelspat vein or the Isaac Spathgang.

You probably all know that I like very much the exact locality and history of the specimens I collect. So if someone have a better locality than just Bleihilfe or can tell me which one of the veins it comes from, I would greatly appreciate.

Thank you in advance for any comment.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.]]> Paul De Bondt Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 14 May 2012 10:37:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,256039#msg-256039 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,256039#msg-256039
I was so happy when I got this specimen at the mineral show in Heidelberg last week that I posted it without thinking further....

Fluorite Brandenberg, 12x5x4 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:02:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,255764#msg-255764 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,255764#msg-255764 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:20:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,255758#msg-255758 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,255758#msg-255758

this time from Brandenberg Mine, Todtnau. Very good specimen - there were larger ones host most the ones I know are rather grayish. This one, though covered by Quartz, has a nice blue color in daylight - an turns a bit grayish in artificial light. Used a daylight lamp to take that picture. No color enhancement with photoshop !.

Fluorite Brandenberg, 4,5x3 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:31:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252811#msg-252811 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252811#msg-252811 Added]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:36:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252709#msg-252709 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252709#msg-252709
Fluorite from Segen Gottes Mine, Schnellingen. Very good specimen for that location. The mine is an ancient silver mine that was last active in the 18th century and is now a visitors mine. The old men were after silver rich galenite. Unusually for such an old abandoned mine some really good fluorites were found there. The larger crystals are mostly cubes where the smaller ones can show more complex crystal structures, Some minerals were found at the dump in front of the mine entrance, but this one looks definitely like an underground specimen.

Fluorite, Segen Gottes Mine, Schnellingen, 11x11x9 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:45:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252553#msg-252553 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252553#msg-252553 That's a nice piece and I have placed it in Best Minerals, Fluorite, Germany and included what you said about it.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:30:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252507#msg-252507 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252507#msg-252507
Very nice specimens. The yellow fluorite looks very similar to the one in my collection.

Thank you,

Joe]]> Joseph Polityka Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:32:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252491#msg-252491 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,252491#msg-252491

This time a rather rare locality: Grube Anton / Wieden. There is a lot of Tannenboden Mine stuff on the market but very little good material from Anton. This one I bought a few years ago from a local mineral dealer who specialices in buying old collection and selling the better pieces on mineral shows. I now live in Black Forest since 1997, but this is the first good specimen from that mine I was able to get my hands on. The coating with pyrite is a bit unusual for Wieden, but could be confirmed by comparison with similar specimens. A pity these mines are closed now. Imagine all the wonderful specimens that came out there in the 1950s and 60s.

Fluorite, Anton Mine, Wieden, 10x9 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:58:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251881#msg-251881 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251881#msg-251881

here is the picture, difficult to photograph.


Best Regards


Holger

Fluorite Halsbrücke, 7x6 cm	© Dr. Holger Klapproth

]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:28:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251829#msg-251829 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251829#msg-251829
I will make a picture of that specimen an post it in the next days and post it here.

Best Regards


Holger]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:48:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251817#msg-251817 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251817#msg-251817
Thank you for the information. Your outline of the local history is very interesting. Do you have a photo of your fluorite?

Best,

Joe]]> Joseph Polityka Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:45:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251798#msg-251798 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251798#msg-251798

As the mines and ore veins of this formerly very important mining area (silver in the middle ages and fluorite in modern times) are not well described in mindat I will try to add some data here. Even the standard literature is of not much help as it does not well represent the old mining and some information my have been lost over the centuries - Todtnau had at least two major fires that reduced the mining city to a village. Mining in Todtnau is old - the oldest known citation of Todtnau as "Totenuova" is from 1025. Mining is recorded from 13th century as the taxes have been payed to the monastery St. Blasien (1247). The settlement was raised to city status in 1283. At the beginning of 14th century there were around 300 working miners reported. The location of most of the old mines is not known, at least not by name. With the exception of the mine "Zur Schindelhalde" near Aftersteg. The big earthquake of Basel in 1356, which destroyed much of Basel also did great damage to the mining area in Todtnau, but it seems that mining industry recovered very quickly. The most important old mine in the area was the "Grube zum Gauch", with had a big waterwheel. Like in most other Black Forest mining areas mining did not do well in 16th century and ceased due to exhausted ore reserves and the 30 years war in 17th century. There was little mining in 18th or 19th century and only elevated interest in Fluorite lead to renaissance of the mining area in early 20th century. The second half of the 20th century was not a good one for the mines as Fluorite prices were falling and mining was becoming more expensive. The last mine in that area was closed in 1974. Mining there was always a bit difficult as the mines were in a region and often snow forced the mining activities to rest over winter.

Important mines were

Grube "zum Gauch" (Todtnauberg, 14th century)

Grube Maus

Grube St. Anna (Grube Fahl)

Tholusbrunnen (Silberberg)

Grube Baumhalde (Silberberg)

Kernerloch (Silberberg)

Grube Brandenberg: most fluorite specimens from the area are from this mine

Grube Rotenbach

Grube Liesbühl


The most common minerals from this mining area are Fluorite, Calcite,Pyromorphite, Galenite, Chalcopyrite and Baryte.]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:36:44 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251682#msg-251682 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251682#msg-251682
I have a similar specimen in my collection with a label that states "Halsbrücke" (that is in the Freiberg mining diststrict). Unfortunately the mine is not stated.


Best Regards

Holger]]> Holger Klapproth Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:44:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251674#msg-251674 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251674#msg-251674 www.mindat.org]
This one or one of the child photos.
Why?

As far as I can see, it shows crystals with the very rare crystallographic form {731} , resulting in a scalenohedral shape, as described by
E. Preuss, H. Ziehr
Skalenoedrische Flußspatkristalle mit der Form (731) von der Grube Cäcilia/Nabburg. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 146, S. 131ff, 1977

See also Berthold Weber's Mineralienseite: [www.berthold-weber.de]
for an explanation in German, specifically:
[www.berthold-weber.de]

The crystal drawings and photos speak for themselves.

The specimen on the Mindat photo is actually from the Preuss collection.
Unfortunately the only specimen on Mindat that shows this habit.]]> Amir C. Akhavan Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:41:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251666#msg-251666 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251666#msg-251666
Uwe Ludwig]]> Uwe Ludwig Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:34:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251616#msg-251616 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251616#msg-251616
The rear of the specimen has a $1.50 price tag next to the number 4305. It might have been a Foote specimen.

The matrix seems to be massive quartz with disseminated micro sulphides with interspersed fragments of bladed barite in some areas. There is a 1cm layer of light brown limestone attached to the back of the specimen.

Thank you and best wishes,

Joe]]> Joseph Polityka Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:35:46 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251610#msg-251610 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251610#msg-251610
If you are not sure then make a picture of the back side but I think Freiberg may be true.

Uwe Ludwig]]> Uwe Ludwig Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:11:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251601#msg-251601 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251601#msg-251601 A fine example from this locality.]]> Leon Hupperichs Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:02:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251596#msg-251596 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,130567,251596#msg-251596 After Tucson, Ill look into this and try and find out which is which.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:31:16 +0000