Fluorite

A fine, reasonably large cabinet specimen of intergrown cubic Fluorite crystals measuring to 4.8 cm on edge from Boltsburn mine at Rookhope in Weardale, County Durham, England.  The Fluorite displays good colour zoning ranging from frosted white to clove brown and colourless with a hint of blackberry purple, with an overall bright glassy lustre.  The outer zones of the crystals are reasonably gemmy while their centres are frosted opaque cream.  Some of the crystals are highly distorted cubes, a tabular habit found throughout the Weardale mines, but not particularly common.  The largest crystal exhibits this characteristic, measuring 4.8 x 3.2 x 2.4 cm.  In direct daylight the intensity of the purple edges is enhanced and under LWUV the entire specimen fluoresces medium bright purple.