This week's EarthWonders newsletter has so much to pack in!
- New Community Features - Like and Comment on Specimens
- Video tutorial for collectors - How to Sell on EarthWonders
- Blue Fluorite - Is It Worth the Hype
- 5 stunning European blue fluorite localities
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Like and Comment on Specimens - New EarthWonders Features
More mineral collectors are joining EarthWonders and uploading their collections and we are bringing new features for the community. Now EarthWonders members can like and comment on any specimen in our database. Owners who are EarthWonders members will be notified and see how many likes they got!
Video Tutorial for Collectors - How to Sell on EarthWonders - WATCH HERE
If you are a collector and thinking to sell some of your specimens, this video is for you. We show you how to create and immediately list your item for sale or how to list an item you have already uploaded to your collection but only decided to sell now. If you have any questions - just ask support chat in the top right corner.
Is Blue Fluorite Worth The Hype: 5 European Localities
We wanted to find the best blue fluorite we could in the EarthWonders database and refined European localities across Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria and Spain for all species and specimens. As for blue fluorite, the database didn't disappoint and we found great examples from these 5 prominent sources.
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
- Weisseck Area, Austria and its Rainbow Fluorite with a lot of blue - if you know you know
- Beihilfe mine, Germany
- La Viesca Mine, Spain
- Le Burg Mine, France
See what else we have in your favorite European mines and don't forget to like and comment!
Email or Instagram us your favourite localities and if you can't find them on EarthWonders we will work on them next!
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - Blue Fluorite
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France produces some of the most historically significant blue fluorites in Europe and specimens from its mines feature heavily in museums across Europe and globally. The specimens from this region often exhibit a deeper, more saturated blue than their counterparts elsewhere. The blue colour is caused by the crystals being exposed to naturally ocurring radiation sources nearby over millions of years. If displayed properly away from UV sources, the darker blue specimens are generally stable and don't fade for decades. Except La Barre mine specimens which are famous for their fading issues. Serious collectors of this locality will even store them in complete darkness and only bring them out occasionally. Others shop around specifically for more recent finds to experience the color close to original but few truly "fresh" specimens are on the market. Perhaps sellers are stockpiling the most recent finds waiting for the prices to go up.
Beihilfe Mine, Germany - Blue Fluorite
Beihilfe Mine, Germany is a classic location and was originally developed as a silver mine and look at it now - one of the most famous blue fluorite localities in Europe! These specimens are known for their exceptional depth of blue which you will normally only find in artificially irradiated fluorite. The crystals typically range from 0.8-4.2 cm and are prized for their exceptional transparency and sharp edges although deeper ink-blue specimens are also out there. Since commercial extraction ceased, blue Beihilfe specimens have become increasingly difficult to acquire and lucky owners hold on tight to them, occasionally showcasing them in publications. Do you have one? Publish it on EarthWonders**** and we would love to feature it!