The valley of the river Wear. The upper reaches between the town of Wolsingham on the east and the county boarder with Cumbria to the west is host to significant mineral deposits of the Mississippi Valley Type (MVT). Many mines in the area were developed for lead and iron between the 13th and 19th centuries, and for fluorspar during the 20th century. Significant amounts of stone quarrying have also occurred. Amongst collectors, the region is particularly known for the high-quality fluorite specimens that have come from many of the mines. Tributaries to the Wear in this region include Bollihopeburn, Stanhopeburn, Rookhopeburn, Westerhopeburn, Swinhopeburn, Middlehopeburn, Daddryshieldburn, Harthopeburn, and Burnhopeburn.
Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
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References
Dunham, K. C., 1990. Geology of the North Pennines Orefield, vol. 1, 2nd ed. London: British Geological Survey.
Fisher, J., 2004. Fluorite from the North Pennines Orefield, England. Rocks and Minerals 79(6): 378-98.
Symes, R. F., and B. Young, 2008. Minerals of Northern England. Natural History Museum, London, and National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh.