Name: Fluorite
Brand: Crystal Classics
Price: 4500 USD
Availability: InStock

Updated 5d ago

Fluorite

Heights mine near Westgate in Weardale is one of the most renowned occurrences of deep emerald-green Fluorite in the North Pennines as it was the main source of high quality glassy twinned emerald-green crystals after the closure of Middlehope Shield mine in the 1860s. Heights mine opened in 1847 and switched between being a lead mine and an ironstone mine, but was never especially successful in either regard. However, the vuggy replacement bodies in the mine yielded superb Fluorite specimens and were popular with mineral collectors during the mid-20th century until nearby quarrying operators decided to blow the adit level up in 1979. This beautiful small cabinet specimen from George Farr's remarkable northern England Fluorite collection features extremely glassy interpenetrant twinned cubic Fluorite crystals, the largest to 1.7 cm on edge, on ironstone matrix. The crystals are transparent, an intense emerald-green colour with strong blue daylight fluorescence, and display superb twinning lines on their surface. Most of the crystals are free from damage. The specimen has a cut base and sides, but this allows it to sit perfectly for display. Minor rounded and tarnished Galena crystals are tucked in between the Fluorite crystals. This is an extremely fine Heights mine piece, probably from collecting during the 1970s when the 'Green Hole' pocket was discovered.

$4,500.00