Fluorite with Siderite, Quartz

specimen number:
1052419

location:
Weardale, Co. Durham, England, UK

description:

Bluish green lustrous gemmy crystals of fluorite to 1.0 cm on edge across this siderite crystal matrix. Small gemmy crystals of quartz are scattered throughout. Cleaving is present as seen. This is in 19th century specimen that at one time was in the collection of Wilhelm Hoyer. The specimen comes with an antique label as seen at the end of the video, I believe the locality provided here is incorrect however. Brightly fluorescent.

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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