Fluorite

specimen number:
1052403

location:
Weardale, Co. Durham, England, UK

description:
Gemmy lustrous green crystals of fluorite to 2.5 cm on edge across the front of matrix. Many of the crystals exhibit twinning. Damage is present as seen, still very nice and attractive for a 19 century example from this famous mining district. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. At one time this was part of the collection of Wilhelm Hoyer. One photo is taken under normal indoor lighting, the other photo is taken out in the sunlight.

Weardale in County Durham, England, is a historic mining district that has been worked since at least the 17th century for lead from hydrothermal veins in Carboniferous limestone. Mining expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries and later included extraction of fluorite as an important industrial mineral. The district is especially famous among collectors for its fluorite, which occurs as well formed cubic crystals often showing colors such as green, purple, and blue, sometimes with color zoning.

Wilhelm Hoyer was a 19th century German mineral collector and dealer who was active during a period when systematic mineral collecting and scientific study were expanding across Europe. He handled and distributed mineral specimens from important mining regions such as the Harz Mountains and the Erzgebirge of Saxony.

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