Description
Genuine Fluorite – Frosterley, Weardale, County Durham, England
This Fluorite crystal from the famous Frosterley locality in Weardale, County Durham, England, is a genuine British mineral specimen carefully selected for quality, clarity and formation. The photograph provided shows the exact specimen you will receive. Please refer to the images for full sizing and scale details.
Your crystal includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming its genuine origin and mineral identification.
Mineral Classification & Crystal Structure
Fluorite is a calcium fluoride mineral with the chemical formula CaF₂. It belongs to the halide mineral group and crystallises in the isometric (cubic) crystal system.
Mineral Name: Fluorite
Chemical Formula: CaF₂
Mineral Group: Halide
Crystal System: Isometric (Cubic)
Hardness: 4 on the Mohs scale
Cleavage: Perfect octahedral cleavage
Lustre: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Fluorite commonly forms well-defined cubic crystals, sometimes modified by octahedral or dodecahedral faces. Frosterley material is particularly admired for its strong colour zoning and clarity, often displaying shades of green, purple, blue or colourless zones within the same crystal.
A distinctive feature of many Weardale fluorites is their fluorescence under ultraviolet light, typically glowing blue, a characteristic highly valued by collectors.
Geological Setting – Frosterley & The Northern Pennine Orefield
Frosterley lies within the Northern Pennine Orefield, one of the most important historic mining districts in England. The fluorite occurs in hydrothermal veins cutting through Carboniferous limestones and sandstones.
These mineral veins formed when hot, mineral-rich fluids circulated through fractures in the host rock during late Variscan tectonic activity. As the fluids cooled, dissolved minerals precipitated in open cavities, allowing fluorite crystals to grow freely.
Associated minerals in the Weardale veins commonly include:
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Galena
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Sphalerite
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Baryte
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Calcite
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Quartz
The combination of hydrothermal processes and open-space crystallisation is responsible for the sharply defined cubic fluorite crystals typical of Frosterley specimens.
Crystal Characteristics & Notable Features
Frosterley fluorite is internationally recognised for:
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Strong cubic crystal habit
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Rich colour zoning
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Transparent to gemmy clarity
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Distinctive fluorescence
This specimen may display crisp cubic faces, stepped growth patterns or subtle internal zoning visible under natural light. Colour variations are the result of trace elements and structural defects within the crystal lattice during formation.
Fluorite’s perfect octahedral cleavage means that natural breakage surfaces form smooth triangular planes, a diagnostic property of the species.
Collectibility & Historical Significance
Fluorite from Weardale has long been prized by mineral collectors due to its aesthetic appeal and classic British locality. Frosterley material is especially sought after for cabinet collections and educational displays.
The Northern Pennine Orefield has a long mining history, particularly for lead, with fluorite often occurring alongside ore minerals. Specimens from named English localities such as Frosterley carry strong provenance value within British mineral collecting.
Collectors appreciate Weardale fluorite for:
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Recognisable locality
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Strong crystal definition
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Attractive colour zoning
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Classic cubic form
Authenticity & Presentation
This Fluorite crystal has been carefully chosen for quality and geological character. The image shown is of the exact specimen you will receive.
Included with your purchase is a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming this is a genuine Fluorite specimen from Frosterley, Weardale, County Durham, England.
A fine example of classic English fluorite mineralisation, this piece combines geological significance, historic mining heritage and striking crystal structure in one authentic British specimen.
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