Fluorite, United Kingdom

hi Woody

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

Hi Ian,

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 !

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?


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
Crystals not pistols.

Rock

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, Now be nice!

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Rock,

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

So you are telling us that we may plagiarize as much as we wish? With proper credit of course?

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Hi Rock,

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.

Rock,

How come there are two threads on fluorite from the UK? Shouldn't they be merged into one?

Jesse

Jesse,
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
Crystals not pistols.

Easy to do it.
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)

Rock said
"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."

Thanks Andy. We will be sparing with our plagiarism and give full credit for what we take. Jessie, I think we go the merge taken care of. When you can , you should take all those linked images and bring them directly into the article as well. Some of your pictures are stunning. Really great work. Now at least we have them up front where they deserve to be. Keep up the good work.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

I have green fluorite collected in Cornwall. I shall see if I can find them. I have not seen them for 20 years so for this I have to rely on memory. I recall quite a strong green crystals and they were sized about an inch square.

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
England

Malcom,
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
Crystals not pistols.

Hi Peter

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.

Fluorite, Hemimorphite.

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.

That's a very nice specimen. I can't but imagine that Jessie will want to include it in the article.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.