Fluorite from Allenheads Mine, England, UK

This really is a beautiful old-time northern English Fluorite. Affixed to it is an old handwritten label stating "Fluosspath Alston moor, Cumber = land, Englan-", but its characteristics lead us to believe that it is really from neighbouring Northumberland, and the Allenheads (Beaumont) mine. Such vague, and incorrect provenancing of mineral specimen was commonplace throughout the Northern Pennines during the 18th and 19th centuries with most early Weardale (in County Durham) specimens labelled as from Alston Moor (in Cumbria). The very sharp cubic crystals, which reach 2.6 cm on edge, are greyish in artificial light but show good purple colour in daylight, and have wispy internal frosting in places. In themselves they are extremely fine and classy, but it is their association with glossy black Sphalerite crystals, cream coloured Dolomite and thin sheet-like layers of finely crystallized white Quartz which provides the link to Allenheads mine. One of the larger Fluorite crystals features a distinctive tapering bevelled edge to one corner. There are also one or two very slight chips to the tips of other corners, but they are not very noticeable at all. Small cabinet in size, this is a an extremely high quality Allenheads piece, for the advanced collector of northern English classics.

Catalogue No.356