Fluorite

Unknown Owner

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Ladywash mine was operational until 1979 and is situated due north of the delightful village of Eyam. For those of you not familiar with Derbyshire (which is a large county), Eyam is situated about 10 km north of Bakewell, famed for its annual Rock Exchange in October. Glassy cubic Fluorite crystals averaging between 1 and 1.5 cm form an elongated mound over an inner nodular matrix of Calcite, black Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite and Fluorite. These minerals in the matrix can only be seen in the base of the specimen once turned over. Metallic sulphide inclusions are a prerequisite for Ladywash Fluorite, and this specimen is no exception with finely disseminated shards and flecks of Chalcopyrite and likely Marcasite densely populating the crystals. The Fluorite is colourless, yet tends to adopt a greyish-green cast. The crystals are in very fine condition, with just two corners showing slight chipping. An extremely fine large display specimen of Fluorite from this well-known Derbyshire locality. Ex George Farr collection.