The Blue Circle Cement Quarry works an exposure of the Great Limestone on the south side of the Wear River, between the villages of Eastgate and Westgate. The quarry was in operation from the mid 1960's until closure in 2002. It is the third source, along with the Heights Quarry and Rogerley Mine, of emerald green fluorite in Weardale. Fluorite crystals from the Cement Quarry are often paler green than either the Heights or Rogerley, and usually have a purplish gray cast due to internal purple color zones. Yellow, pale blue and purple fluorite are also found. Mineralization is found in flats associated with ore-bearing veins in exposures of the Great Limestone. No studies of mineralization in the quarry have been published, but it is likely that mineralization occurs along an extension of the Heights West Cross Vein on the south side of the River Wear.
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UK OS Grid Reference: NY950370 Map Reference: 54°43'40"N , 2°4'39"W
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