Fluorite

Slitt Vein is one of Weardale’s major veins/vein systems and has been worked by several mines throughout the Weardale Valley. The accompanying David & Elizabeth Hacker label gives “Slit Vein” and the Crystal Classics label, “Slitt Mine”. Slitt mine worked a small section of Slitt Vein, so this could be possible. However, based on the colour, crystal size and preferential coating of beautifully crystallised Galena, I would suggest Blackdene mine at Ireshopeburn in Weardale, which also worked this vein. These are all just suggestions, so the official label has been left as Slitt mine. Enough of the location, what about the specimen. Well, it’s a large cabinet specimen, 19 cm long and composed of intergrown cubic Fluorite crystals of mottled purple-lilac tinged with patches of lilac-cream. The largest crystal measures 4.4 cm on edge and all have translucent faces and opaque bodies. Occasional corners are somewhat gemmy. The preferential coating of sub-millimetre Galena crystals look spectacular under a loupe (say about x5) with the very occasional micro-crystal of Pyrite. A fabulous specimen from somewhere on the Slitt Vein, probably Slitt mine or Blackdene mine.