Fluorite with Galena

Masson Hill quarry is situated a little to the south west of Matlock, closer to Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham. Anyone familiar with this area, even just a having holidayed there, might have ridden on the Heights of Abraham cable car whose upper terminal is a fairly short walk from Masson quarry. This fine small cabinet specimen is a great example of translucent to transparent, colourless Fluorite, with cubic crystals up to 1.7 cm on edge. Interestingly, the cubes have slightly bevelled edges, not commonly observed at Masson. There is also a trace of metallic grey sulphides included-in and dusting the surfaces, giving the edges a darkened hue. To one side a single, 2.2 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm crude, rounded Galena crystal sits amongst the Fluorite, with a dark grey, almost black patina. This specimen comes with a German collector’s label.