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][i](hint, hint...Helen, I know you're watching!)[/i][/b] [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England[/b] [pic id=219794 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]Fluorite, Eastgate (Blue Circle) Cement Quarry, Weardale, County Durham, England. Crystal is 2.5 cm on edge.[/i] There are several mining districts in the United Kingdom (all in England) that have produced notable fluorite specimens. These include the polymetallic deposits of Devon and Cornwall, the lead-fluorspar deposits of the Peaks District in Derbyshire, and the North Pennines Orefield, centering around the Weardale region in County Durham and spilling over into portions of Cumbria to the west and Northumberland to the north. Of these, the Weardale region is perhaps the best known because of quantity and overall quality of specimens produced from the mines there. [b]The North Pennines Orefield, England[/b] The mineralization of the North Pennines Orefield is a classic example of the Mississippi Valley-Type base metal-fluorspar-barium ore deposits and bears striking resemblance to the fluorspar deposits of Southern Illinois. Mining in the region is documented back to the 13th century and may stretch back to the Roman Era. Prior to the late 19th century mining was primarily for lead and to a lesser degree iron, silver and zinc. A collapse in the international lead market in 1880 forced closure of many of the mines and resulted in mass immigration of local inhabitants to Australia, New Zealand, and the Western US. During the 20th century industrial demands for fluorspar, and to a lesser extent barite caused a resurgence of mining in the region and it was during this period that many of the specimens in modern collections were recovered. As with many other developed countries, by the end of the century the high costs of mining meant that raw materials could be imported more cheaply from places such as China, and the last commercial mines in the Weardale region closed in 1999. While there are dozens, if not hundreds of mines and prospects in the region that have produced the odd specimen, only a few stand out, and I will focus on those that have produced what I think of as "world-class" specimens. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Northumberland, East Allendale, Allenheads Mine (Beaumont Mine)[/b] [pic id=219567 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A cluster of pale lavender twinned fluorite crystals up to 1.5 cm on edge, along with sphalerite and minor siderite. 13x7x6 cm overall size. Specimen recovered from the Diana Vein during the British Steel period of operation in the 1970s.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-6546.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-75340.html]Photo 3[/url] The Allenheads Mine was one of the most prolific lead mines in the region during the early to mid-19th century. Despite this, few identifiable specimens from the mine survive. In the late 1960s the mine was reopened under the name "Beaumont Mine" by British Steel for fluorspar. The mine was not an economic success and closed in 1981. Some excellent specimens of pale lavender twinned fluorite, associated with sphalerite and siderite were recovered from the Diana Vein during this period. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Cumbria, Alston Moor District[/b] [pic id=220520 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A mound of lustrous, intensely purple penetration twin fluorite crystals up to 2.6 cm in size. 11x10x6 cm overall size. Specimen is from the Philadelphia Academy of Science, Dr. T. B. Wilson collection (n. 26657) dating from around 1860.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-220371.html]Photo 2[/url] Sometime during the mid 19th century there appears to have been a find of lustrous, intensely purple twinned fluorite at an unknown location in the North Pennines. Specimens bearing a strong resemblance to each other, and likely from the same occurrence can be found in the Natural History Museum, London, The Huntarian Museum in Glasgow, The Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, and in the now deaccessioned part of the collection from the Philadelphia Academy of Science. The acquisition of all specimens can be dated to 1850-1860 and none bear any more exact location information than "Cumberland" or "Alston Moor." This attribution is likely due to the fact that the local mineral dealers of the time mostly worked out of the village of Alston. If "Alston Moor" is correct, the Rotherhope Fell Mine is a possibility. It is equally possible they could have come from an unrecorded mine in Weardale, to the east. Regardless, they are some of the most beautiful purple fluorites to have come from the region. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Blackdene Mine[/b] [pic id=2276 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A purple twinned fluorite crystal, 2.2 cm on edge, sitting on a cluster of smaller opaque fluorite crystals. 7x5x5 cm overall. Recovered in 1965 from the Slitt Vein[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2274.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-45144.html]Photo 3[/url] The Blackdene Mine, located near the village of Ireshopeburn has a recorded history as a lead mine back to the early 17th century. It was reopened during the 20th century for fluorspar and was most productive between the mid-1960s - 1980s when operated by British Steel. The mine was a prolific specimen-producer and is primarily known for clusters of purple twinned fluorite crystals, often associated with galena, calcite and/or quartz. Other colors including greens and yellows were also found on occasion. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Rookhope, Boltsburn Mine[/b] [pic id=219565 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A large penetration-twinned fluorite crystal, 7 cm across, with a fine coating of siderite and quartz on a couple faces. Likely recovered circa 1920.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2288.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-92049.html]Photo 3[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-39267.html]Photo 4[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-220383.html]Photo 5[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-220386.html]Photo 6[/url] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123631.html]Boltsburn Mine[/url] is located in the village of Rookhope along a northern tributary to the River Wear. The mine was principally active between 1892 and 1931. The ore deposits, which were found in highly developed metasomatic replacement horizons, known locally as "flats," were incredibly rich in both galena and fluorite. Because of this, the Boltsburn was one of the few mines that remained economic after the lead market crash. The mine was a prolific source of fluorite specimens, which occurred in clusters of gemmy twinned crystals reportedly up to 10 inches (25 cm) on edge. Many of these crystals were of optical quality and it is likely that the best were sold to German firms for use in precision optical instruments. The most common color for fluorite from the mine is lavender to wine-purple, though a wide variety of colors were produced. Specimens from the mine can still be found in many public and private collections, and an excellent suite can be seen in the Sir Arthur Russell collection, housed in the Natural History Museum, London (unfortunately, not on display). [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Cumbria, Alston Moor, Nenthead, Brownley Hill Mine[/b] [pic id=142954 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A cluster of untwined, amber-yellow fluorite crystals up to 3 cm on edge, from the Jug Vein, Brownley Hill Mine. Small chalcopyrite crystals are present on some crystal faces. 10x6x5 cm overall size.[/i] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-124253.html]Brownley Hill Mine[/url], located near the village of Nenthead was worked for lead ore during the 19th century, and later for zinc. The mine closed in 1936. The mine is on the margin of the fluorite zone, centering on Weardale to the east. While the mine has produced some interesting specimens of amber-colored fluorite (primarily from the Jug Vein), it is best known as the type locality for Alstonite. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Cambokeels Mine[/b] [pic id=2280 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A cluster of pale aqua-blue penetration twin fluorite crystals up to 2.4 cm across, with minor white crystalline quartz and fine grained pyrite. 6x5x4 cm overall size. Found 1987 in the 320 level, Zinc flats, Slitt vein.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2278.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-31647.html]Photo 3[/url] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-125155.html]Cambokeels Mine[/url], also called Cammok Eals, is located near the village of Eastgate. It was established as a lead mine during the 19th century and reopened during the mid 20th century for fluorspar. It's most productive period was in the 1970s and 1980s during which time it became the deepest mine in the region. It is primarily known for specimens of colorless to very pale blue twinned fluorite, usually associated with quartz. On several occasions cavities of lavender-purple fluorite were found as well. Besides fluorite, the mine produced excellent specimens of calcite and pyrrhotite. Closed in 1989. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Eastgate Cement Quarry[/b] [pic id=167578 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A gemmy penetration-twinned green fluorite crystal, 2 cm on edge, associated with galena on limestone matrix.[/i] Also known as the [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123629.html]Blue Circle Quarry[/url], this was a large open-cast quarry worked for limestone, which was used to manufacture cement on site. The quarry was opened in the mid-1960s and closed in 2004. The cement plant has since been demolished and the site is being reclaimed. While in operation the quarrying intersected one or more mineralized veins, which yielded a sporadic supply of crystallized fluorite specimens, primarily green in color to weekend visitors and entrepreneurial quarrymen. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Rookhope, Frazer's Hush Mine[/b] [pic id=6555 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A purple fluorite penetration twin, 2.5 cm on edge, on a matrix of fine grain sphalerite and galena. 10x7x5 cm overall size. Recovered from the 340 level, Greencleugh vein, in 1988.[/i] The Frazers Hush Mine was established on the site of some old lead workings in the upper reaches of Rookhopeburn during the 1970s. The mine was not known as a great specimen producer until a major cavity of lustrous, deep purple twinned fluorite crystals was encountered in 1987. The mine eventually joined up underground with the neighboring [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123627.html]Groverake Mine[/url], both of which closed in 1999. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Heights Mine and Quarry[/b] [pic id=219566 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A transparent, deep green twinned fluorite crystal, 2.5 cm on edge, perched a triangular piece of ironstone matrix. 5.5x4.5x3.5 cm overall. Specimen recovered from the North Vein in 1977.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2271.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2275.html]Photo 3[/url] The Heights Mine, near the village of Eastgate, was originally established as an iron mine sometime around 1850 and worked until around 1870. The resulting underground workings were a popular, if not dangerous destination for weekend collectors during the 1960s - 1970s, and it is during this time that many of the specimens the mine is known for were recovered. An open-cast quarry worked for crushed stone now occupies the site and over the past 20 years has destroyed much of the old mine workings. Despite the fact that the quarry management is "unsympathetic" toward mineral collectors, new specimens still occasionally find their way out. There are three specimen producing veins that have been worked by the mine, and while the greens are the most famous, the mine also produces a wide variety of other colors. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Cumbria, Scordale, Hilton Mine[/b] [pic id=178694 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A gemmy, penetration-twinned yellow fluorite crystal, 2 cm on edge, on a bed of smaller yellow fluorite crystals and some ironstone matrix. 4x4x4 cm overall.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-81159.html]Photo 2[/url] Located along the escarpment that defines the western boundary of the North Pennines, the [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-174672.html]Hilton Mine[/url] has produced some of the finest yellow-amber fluorite in the region. The mine was first developed for lead during the 19th century and then worked for barite and witherite during the early 20th, closing prior to the second world war. During the 1960s - 1970s it was the site of much amateur collecting and many excellent specimens of fluorite were recovered. The area around the mine is now part of a military maneuvers range and access to the mine is forbidden. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Rogerley Mine[/b] [pic id=131292 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A plate of dark green fluorite, 15 cm across, containing numerous sharp penetration-twinned crystals up to 3.8 cm on edge. Recovered from the Jewel Box Pocket, August 2007.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-2266.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-3720.html]Photo 3[/url] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123108.html]Rogerley Mine[/url] was developed in the 1970s on a mineralized vein discovered in a disused limestone quarry located near the village of Frosterley by local collectors Lindsay Greenbank and Mick Sutcliffe. The mine was worked for fluorite specimens by the partners on a weekend basis until the mid-1990s, when it was turned over to a group of American collectors who have operated the mine on a seasonal basis since. The mine accesses a series of mineralized flats which have produced a fair amount of green fluorite, much of simply average quality. During the summer of 2007 a new mineralized zone was encountered that has yielded specimens of a much higher quality. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Cumbria, Alston Moor, Rotherhope Fell Mine[/b] [pic id=93456 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A well-formed penetration-twinned fluorite crystal, 3 cm in size, perched on a wedge of white crystalline quartz, with a few small galena crystals. Likely recovered from flats in the Tynebottom Limestone circa 1930.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-45242.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-52093.html]Photo 3[/url] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-132902.html]Rotherhope Fell Mine[/url] (also known as Rodderup Fell), near the village of Garrigill, was first worked for lead in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the early 20th it transitioned to zinc and fluorspar, closing in 1947. During the late 1920s - early 1930s a series of mineralized flats were encountered that produced fluorite specimens rivaling those from the Boltsburn in quality. Most were purple twins with well developed internal color zonations, usually associated with quartz, calcite and/or galena. One cavity yielded a number of exceptional fluorite specimens colored amber over purple core. Many are preserved in the Russell collection at the Natural History Museum, London. [b]Fluorite[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, Northumberland, East Allendale, Spartey Lea, St. Peter's Mine[/b] [pic id=39270 width=600 float=left][/pic] [i]A mound of large, untwined amber/yellow fluorite crystals up to 5 cm on edge, with a partial overcoat of fine white crystalline quartz. Recovered in 1996.[/i] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-16733.html]Photo 2[/url] The [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123543.html]St. Peter's Mine[/url] is located in East Allendale about half way between Allenheads and Allendale Town. Discovered in 1902, it was worked for lead up to 1946. During the 1930s a large cavity of bright green fluorite associated with galena was discovered. The majority of it was acquired by Sir Arthur Russell and is now in the Natural History Museum, London along with the rest of his collection. During the mid-1990s a group of local collectors received permission to collect in the mine and though they never found the source of the green fluorite, recovered some very good specimens of amber-yellow fluorite, often associated with quartz and siderite. The project was recently abandoned because of safety concerns in the old mine workings. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, North Pennines, County Durham, Weardale, Middlehope Shield Mine, White's Level[/b] [pic id=45156 width=600 float=left][/pic] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-107940.html]Photo 2[/url] The earliest documented find of fluorite specimens in the Weardale region occurred in 1818 at [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-125588.html]White's Level[/url], along Middlehopeburn just north of Westgate. The specimens are plates and clusters of twinned green fluorite, the color of which has usually faded from exposure to sunlight over time. Though often mislabeled as "Heights Mine" the specimens can be identified by the tan, sandy-textured matrix and unusual rounding on the cube edges. The find must have been substantial as specimens are still found almost 2 centuries later in many public and private collections. [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b]England, Cumbria, West Cumbrian Iron Ore Field, Egremont, Ullcoats/Florence Orebody[/b] [pic id=281590 width=600 float=left][/pic] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-81144.html]Photo 2[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-5335.html]Photo 3[/url] [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-22181.html]Photo 4[/url] Although the West Cumbrian (Cumberland) Iron Ore Fields are best known for their spectacular specimens of calcite and barite, several mines near the village of Egremont have also yielded some very nice specimens of cubic, sky-blue fluorite, associated with quartz, dolomite, and/or hematite. These mines, the [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-123462.html]Florence[/url], Ullcoats, and Beckerment were primarily active between 1900 - 1968, though the Florence mine survived at a low level of activity until 2007. All three mines accessed the same orebody and in later years were joined up underground into one large mining complex. Specimens can be found attributed to all three mines, but this likely just indicated which shaft the specimen was brought out through, as they are otherwise indistinguishable. [b]References[/b] Dunham, K. C., 1990, Geology of the Northern Pennine orefield, v. I, 2nd Ed. British Geological Survey, London, 299 p. Fisher, J., and L. Greenbank. 2003. The Rogerley mine, Weardale, County Durham, England, UK Journal of Mines and Minerals, 23:9-20. Fisher, J., 2004. Fluorite from the North Pennines Orefield, England, Rocks & Minerals, 79(6):378-398. Fisher, J., 2005. Les gisements de fluorite des Pennines du Nord, Weardale, Angleterre, Le Règne Minéral, 66:5-27. (in French) Symes, R. F., and B. Young, 2008, Minerals of Northern England, National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh, 208 p. 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] http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,131033#msg-131033 Wed, 22 May 2013 22:21:46 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,251476#msg-251476 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,251476#msg-251476 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:05:31 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,251263#msg-251263 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,251263#msg-251263
Locality: Coldstones Quarry, Greenhow, Pateley Bridge District, North Pennines, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Size: 3.5 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm
Largest Crystal: 1 cm

Glassy clear fluorite cubes with distinctive blue edges and spots to the faces. Some areas are covered with a tan coating of hemimorphite.

© xdxu

]]> Xiao-dong Xu Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:28:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,160857#msg-160857 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,160857#msg-160857
Just joined this site. I'm finally getting into the 21st Century and getting clued up on computers and mobile phones etc.

Re your enquiry on Fluorite from The Botallack Mine, I have not seen any crystallised Fluorite from this location or any other mine in West Penwith with the exception of the Geevor Mines. I do have a specimen of crystallised fluorite of a light greenish colour, covered in doubly terminated quartz crystals spec about 4 inches long from the Wetherhed Lode collected in the early sixties.

I hope this is of help to you and would be glad to give you any more information on Fluorites from West Penwith.]]> Dominic Hudson Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:25:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,157839#msg-157839 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,157839#msg-157839 Without a good locality to go with a specimen we would not want to include it on Best Minerals unless there was something really amazing about it. An old mineral dealer here in Pasadena, California collected in the field for years had over the years had built a seizable pile of rocks from his various trips in his back yard. One day we noticed a fist size lump of white quartz in the pile and when he picked it up to look at it he saw that the rain had cleaned it and exposed about an ounce of gold in the quartz. He spent the rest of his life trying to remember where he picked the rock up.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:13:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,157692#msg-157692 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,157692#msg-157692
The mystery to me is the location of the find.I had intended going to carn brea and got lost. I got to a junction and decided to get out of the car and have a look around. On the corner was a plot of land and it looked like someone had tried to flatten it. It did not appear to be a dump as it consisted of earth and lumps of green fluorite. As I recall there were some quite good crystals but nothing spectacular. I have a lot of bags to look through so I dont know when I shall find them.]]> malcolm chapman Best Minerals - Fluorite Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:37:23 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138205#msg-138205 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138205#msg-138205 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 16 May 2009 08:46:50 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138166#msg-138166 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138166#msg-138166 "So you are telling us that we may plagiarize as much as we wish? With proper credit of course?"

Andy replies
"So long as the plagiarism is in the form of small extracts and not repetition of the text paragraph by paragraph I have no objection to you quoting some of the fluorite text. I wrote the book for people to use and your ambitious project is clearly worthy of support. Please note copyright of the photographs in the book rest with the photographers, not me."]]> andy tindle Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 May 2009 20:06:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138155#msg-138155 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138155#msg-138155 1) Split off Jesse's thread to create new thread (now there are three)
2) Merge Jesse's thread with split created above (now in proper order and back to two threads)
3) Merge above thread with 2nd thread (now there is one)]]> David Von Bargen Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 May 2009 19:10:33 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138154#msg-138154 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138154#msg-138154 Yes they should. The good article you have written should appear at the top of the thread, and this one should be merged with that thread. I tried to do the merge but got an error message. Perhaps I can get Dave to help us clean up this mess.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 May 2009 18:55:36 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138153#msg-138153 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138153#msg-138153
How come there are two threads on fluorite from the UK? Shouldn't they be merged into one?

Jesse]]> Jesse Fisher Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 May 2009 17:06:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138152#msg-138152 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138152#msg-138152
Nice article on one of my favourite mineral species. Congrats.

I think you overlooked this locality in Cornwall. The Trevaunance Mine. [www.mindat.org]
A great locality overall but the Fluorite from there has the typical Tetrahexahedron form.
To my knowldge, there are not much localities in the U.K. who displays that form. Maybe well the form but no so pronounced than there.
Just take a look. Here it is : [www.mindat.org]

Take care and best regards.

Paul.]]> Paul De Bondt Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 15 May 2009 07:52:42 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138151#msg-138151 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138151#msg-138151 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 14 May 2009 23:24:06 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138150#msg-138150 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138150#msg-138150
At the risk of it appearing to be a sale plug I'd like to draw your attention to the section on fluorite in the book I published last year (Minerals of Britain and Ireland). It describes a very large number of localities including many in Scotland and Ireland as well as from the regions you list. Everything is referenced, so you should be able to extract plenty of information via it. Additionally, excellent photographs of fluorite are included - courtesy of the National Museum of Wales, David Green and Jesse Fisher.

Cheers
Andy]]> andy tindle Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 14 May 2009 20:55:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138149#msg-138149 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138149#msg-138149 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 14 May 2009 18:48:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138148#msg-138148 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138148#msg-138148
the only two examples that you listed for Derbyshire, England, UK have travelled north to Weardale.

something to do with plate tectonics i guess:)]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Thu, 14 May 2009 14:54:52 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138147#msg-138147 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138147#msg-138147

Fluorite, United Kingdom
CaF Cubic
Here will go a good picture of a fluorite from the United Kingdom and general remarks about the fluorite from this country. Here are some url's to some of the better UK fluorite specimens here on Mindat that can be considered for inclusion in the article. These, in most cases are just for temporary use until we can get images of the much better specimens that are almost certainly out there. We should also consider that there are probably localities out there with fine specimens that are not even mentioned on Mindat. Also in some instances there are sometimes pictures on Mindat, of specimens from a locality, but they were so ratty that I did not include them here, but there may also be really good specimens from there that we should talk about in this article.


Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Weardale, North Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Burtree Slits, Cowshill, Weardale, North Pennines, Co.

Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Greenlaws Mine, Daddry Shield, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Blue Circle Cement Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, North Pennines,

Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Blackdene Mine, Ireshopeburn, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Rookhope District, Weardale, North Pennines, Co.

Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]



Boltsburn Mine, Rookhope District, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]



Frazer's Hush Mine, Rookhope District, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Groverake Mine, Rookhope District, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Stotfield Burn Mine, Rookhope District, Weardale,

North Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Newlandside Quarry, Stanhope, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


West Pastures Mine, Stanhope, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Cambokeels Mine (Cammock Isle Mine; Cumnock Isle Mine;

Cammock Eals Mine), Westgate, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Cambokeels Mine (Cammock Isle Mine; Cumnock Isle Mine;

Cammock Eals Mine), Westgate, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Heights Mine, Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines, Co.

Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Heights Quarry, Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines,

Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Middlehope Shield Mine, Westgate, Weardale, North

Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines),

Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District,

Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Liskeard District, Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor),

Liskeard District, Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

St Cleer, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin

Moor), Liskeard District, Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Wheal Mary Ann, Menheniot, Menheniot Area, Liskeard

District, Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

St Agnes District, Cornwall, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and

Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Rotherhope Fell Mine (Rodderup Fell Mine), Black Burn

Area, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and

Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level),

Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North

and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Rampgill Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North

Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland),

Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District,

North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland),

Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Ullcoats Mine, Egremont, West Cumberland Iron Field,

North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria,

England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Hilton, Escarpment District, North Pennines, South

Eastern Region (Westmorland), Cumbria, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Derbyshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Milltown Quarry, Milltown, Ashover, Derbyshire,

England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Castleton, Derbyshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Old Tor Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Crich Quarry, Crich, Derbyshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Ladywash Mine, Eyam, Derbyshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Tear Breeches Mine, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England,

UK
[www.mindat.org]

Tavistock District, Devon, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Bere Alston (Beeralstone), Tavistock District, Devon,

England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Furzehill Mine (Whitstone Mine; Whitsom Mine; East

Tamar Consols), Bere Alston (Beeralstone), Tavistock

District, Devon, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Tamar Valley Mine (Buttspill Mine), Bere Alston

(Beeralstone), Tavistock District, Devon, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Coldstones Quarry, Greenhow, Pateley Bridge District,

North Pennines, North Yorkshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Gillheads Mine (Gill Heads Mine), Skyreholme, Pateley

Bridge District, North Pennines, North Yorkshire,

England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Trollers Gill (Skyreholme Beck Valley), Skyreholme,

Pateley Bridge District, North Pennines, North

Yorkshire, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Wetgrooves Mine (Wetgroves Mine), Askrigg,

Wensleydale, North Pennines, North Yorkshire, England,

UK

Elbolton Mine, Elbolton Hill, Thorpe, Grassington,

Wharfedale, North Pennines, North Yorkshire, England,

UK
[www.mindat.org]

Northumberland, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]

Alston Moor District, North Pennines, Northumberland,

England, UK
[www.mindat.org]


Allenheads Mine (Beaumont Mine), East Allendale, North

Pennines, Northumberland, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

St Peter's Mine, Sparty Lea, East Allendale, North

Pennines, Northumberland, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Coalcleugh Mine, Coalcleugh, West Allendale, North

Pennines, Northumberland, England, UK
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Vaynor Quarry, Trefechan, Merthyr Tydfil (Mid

Glamorgan; Breconshire; Brecknockshire), Wales, UK
[www.mindat.org]]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Fluorite Wed, 06 May 2009 09:43:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138146#msg-138146 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138146#msg-138146
This is a great discussion, but I'm afraid that I've strayed off the topic of best UK fluorites and into the specimen history territory that Mick Cooper would have loved. I'll send you more info by PM !

:)-D]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:22:20 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138145#msg-138145 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138145#msg-138145
great find, but they ought to be back home in the UK!:)

think that the menheniot mines must be a strong possibility for these pieces, certainly it produced big specimens! and fluorite and quartz certainly occurs here [www.mindat.org], but so did green fluorite and quartz at bere alston. green fluorite occurs at a number of places in the south west!

i would tend to lean towards menheniot, but next time i'm in the bm, i'll have another look to see if there is anything in the russell collection to tie them down with a bit more certainty.

and if collected/obtained by talling, then menheniot possibly fits in better than bere alston anyway. talling was dealing from around 1840 and died in 1883, mary ann's last workings were 1843-85, and the menheniot mines were only about 10 miles from where he was based in Lostwithiel. not sure about the dates of the russell bere alston specimens (i'll have to check with the bm), but the mines here were certainly producing specimens in the early 1800s long before talling was born.

cheers

ian]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:08:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138144#msg-138144 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138144#msg-138144
The third photo shows sea-green fluorites with stubby quartz xls. The bottom of this specimen has some massive deep blue-green fluorite with a little embedded massive galena. Size of this piece is 14 cm across.

Any thoughts on these? Mary Ann or possibly one of the other mines in the Liskeard district?]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:14:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138143#msg-138143 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138143#msg-138143
difficult to say really, but tend to agree that the galena points more towards the menheniot mines rather than the liskeard ones. galena with fluorite is a common association from the former.

three more mary ann rocks to look at. what a place that was!]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:06:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138142#msg-138142 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138142#msg-138142
Here are top and bottom views of one of the yellow fluorites from the collection that I'm researching. The specimen is 10 x 7 x 7 cm. The color is very pale, and the crystal faces are lightly frosted. Small patches of micro pyrites occur on the crystal surfaces, along with a few tiny weathered galena crystals. The bottom of the specimen is a shallow concave surface lined with botryoidal clusters of micro pyrites.

The presence of galena suggests Wheal Mary Ann or one of the other nearby mines, and not the Caradon area?]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:04:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138141#msg-138141 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138141#msg-138141
Very fine specimens and helpful photos, thanks. I don't have much experience with fluorites from this part of Cornwall, so it's nice to see some examples. I was surprised at the vibrant lemon/sulfur color of the crystals associated with pyrite, and the resemblance between localities. And that last one from Caradon boggles the mind! (:D

Later tonight I'll post a couple of photos of the yellow fluorites with pyrite that I mentioned.]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:26:44 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138140#msg-138140 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138140#msg-138140
these 9 are from my records of things in the BM, ::o will see if i can get decent pictures at some point]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:23:56 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138139#msg-138139 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138139#msg-138139
The third attachment is an image of the same specimens in the British Museum that I took a picture of in 1975 and just recently uploaded, but on a black background.
Rock]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:16:03 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138138#msg-138138 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138138#msg-138138
Yellow with pyrite from trelawney, mary ann and caradon.

not too much to tell them apart really

ian]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:08:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138137#msg-138137 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138137#msg-138137
That would be great, thanks. It happens that I'll be exhibiting specimens from the Cornish collection at Rochester, and your locality attributions would be most welcome! It'll also give me a chance to say more about the collection history and some of the related mysteries that we're trying to sort out.

Looking forward to visiting with you and hearing your talk. Alfredo is likewise giving a talk on Mindat, here in Augusta at the Maine Mineral Symposium in May, so we're "spreading the gospel".

Cheers,
Woody Thompson
(Maine Geological Survey)]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:06:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138136#msg-138136 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138136#msg-138136
Feel free to bring some of the specimens to Rochester and I'll be happy to give my opinions on provenance etc!

Jolyon]]> Jolyon & Katya Ralph Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:00:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138135#msg-138135 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138135#msg-138135
Thanks for posting the information on Cornish fluorite localities and distinguishing specimen characteristics.

I'm sorting through part of an old Cornish collection that recently came to light in Lostwithiel. Some of the specimens are very good (possibly collected by Talling), but none are labeled. Based on the collection history and many specimens that can be attributed with confidence, the great majority came from the Liskeard District (as defined in Mindat). I'm puzzling over some of the fluorites, however, especially the yellow ones. Do you know of any way to distinguish yellow fluorites from Wheal Mary Ann, Wheal Trelawny, and the Caradon Mines? Do they differ in crystal habit, luster, associations, etc.? The specimen in question has a thin crust of pyrite on the base, as well as patches of micro pyrites on the crystal surfaces. Similar pyrite occurs on a couple of large blue cubic crystals in the collection that most likely came from Mary Ann. One of them is 22 cm across!

Thanks,
Woody Thompson]]> Woodrow Thompson Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:49:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138134#msg-138134 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138134#msg-138134
a number of the clay pits and the the quarries nearby also produce nice fluorite, but i didn't include them as i don't think they rank high enough on the UK scale. I think that probably Wh Buller and Botallack also fall into this category, there is certainly nothing in the BM of note. The Unity/Gorland dumps were covered in massive green fluorite, but I never saw a modern specimen from here that began to compare with old-time pieces unfortunately]]> Ian Jones Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:32:32 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138133#msg-138133 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,96,131033,138133#msg-138133
Camborne/Redruth/St Day:

Wheal Unity: Fluorite was abundant in some parts of the mine. In 2003, when an area the size of a football pitch was cleared for building operations opposite to Wheal Unity gate, several small dumps were cut one of which was composed almost entirely of massive pale green fluorite (rarely with tiny crystals - I had no luck with these, but found a nice clinoclase instead). Decent crystals seem to have been generally scarce.

Wheal Buller: This mine produced yellow, purple and light green crystals, often with slightly rounded edges. Many of the purple crystals have yellow cores. The dumps still produce good specimens (I did collect some in 2007 and 2008).

West Penwith:

Green fluorite was also recovered from Botallack Mine. I don't know much about the quality and whether crystals were found at all (I will ask Dominic Hudson when I see him this summer), but the massive sample I have in my collection (Corpus Christi lode, collected on adit level near Cliff Fields shaft) displays a rather unique "toxic green" colour which I have not seen in fluorites from anywhere else.]]> Peter Haas Best Minerals - Fluorite Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:09:13 +0000