Fluorites
Fluorite comes in every color imaginable. Pure Fluorite is colorless. The colors found in fluorite are caused by mineral impurities, which are normally hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons (and the coloring) can be removed from a specimen by heating. Collectors often procure a vibrant colored piece and then display it in bright sunlight. The heating from the sun can cause your specimen to lose its brilliant color if left in direct sunlight too long.
Fluorite is one of the more famous fluorescent minerals. Many specimens strongly fluoresce, in a great variation of color. Rogerly Mine in Weardale England is a well known producer of super fluorescent specimens. The word "fluorescent" is derived from the mineral Fluorite. The name of the element fluorine is also derived from Fluorite. Fluorite is soft and is not usable as a gemstone although their natural beauty can rival most natural gemstones. Fluorite comes from the root word fluo meaning “to flow” Fluorite is used in making flux for steelworking
The Rogerley Mine is located in the historic Weardale mining District of Northern England. First discovered by Lindsay Greenbank and Mike Sutcliffe in the early 1970's, it is to date, the only mine in all of Britian to be worked on a commercial scale solely for the recovery of crystallized mineral specimens.
Since the summer of 1999, UK Mining Ventures has operated the Rogerley Mine on a seasonal basis, producing many fine, well crystallized specimens of green fluorite.
Amphiboles crystallize into two crystal systems, monoclinic and orthorhombic. Amphiboles are minerals of either igneous or metamorphic origin; in the former case occurring as constituents (hornblende) of igneous rocks, such as granite, diorite, andesite and others. Those of metamorphic origin include examples such as those developed in limestones by contact metamorphism (tremolite) and those formed by the alteration of other ferromagnesian minerals (hornblende). Pseudomorphs of amphibole after pyroxene are known as uralite.
The name amphibole (from the Greek word amphibolos meaning 'ambiguous') was used by René Just Haüy to include tremolite, actinolite, tourmaline and hornblende. The group was so named by Haüy in allusion to the protean variety, in composition and appearance, assumed by its minerals. This term has since been applied to the whole group. Four of the amphibole minerals are among the minerals commonly called asbestos. These are: Anthophyllite, Riebeckite, Cummingtonite/Grunerite series, and Actinolite/Tremolite series. The Cummingtonite/Grunerite series is often termed Amosite,or Brown Asbestos and Riebeckite is known as Crocidolite or Blue Asbestos. These are generally called Amphibole Asbestos.
If you are interested in learning more about the Rogerley Mine, the history and geology of the Weardale area, or obtaining specimens from the mine, please click the link below to check out the rest of this site.
Item # 6-RMFL09189662
Rogerly Mine Fluorite and Galena from England
$212.00
This amazing Old Stock Rogerly Mine Fluorite and Galena specimen shows emerald green to clear indoors in incandescent light and changes to a green with blue in daylight. Under SW light it glows a wonderful blue as can be seen in the photos. Pictures were taken outdoors in natural sunlight and the SW photos were taken under a Way Too Cool 13W lamp (SW and MW) with a Nikon CoolPix L1 camera. This specimen is from our personal Fluorescent collection and is a great display piece!
This specimen weighs 25.8 oz or 1.6 lb (733g) and measures 6.8 x 4.5 x 1.2" (17.4 x 11.6 x 3 cm) with Fluorite Cubes and many Galena crystals
ITEM# FLOC05130062
Clear to Lilac Purple Cubic Fluorite with Hematite Inclusions from China
$59.00
FLUORITE
This specimen measures 6 1/2" x 6" Wide x 1 3/4" Tall, (166 x 155 x 44mm) and weighs 2.5 lbs (1152g) It has purple cubic FLUORITE crystals across the top of the specimen which are clear lilac with darker purple edges, some of them have yellow hematite inclusions. Interspersed are prismatic Quartz crystals which are opaque white to clear, along with a white to cream drusy crust. They are all on a grayish-white matrix. From Yao Gan Xian, Hunan Province, China.
ITEM# FLO02142963
Light Blue Fluorite and Silver Mica in matrix from Lucas County, Ohio
This piece has been in our personal collection for several years. It is a rare specimen of Light Blue Fluorite and Silver Mica in matrix from the Waterville Stone Quarry, Lucas Co, Ohio
This specimen weighs 19.7 oz or 1.23 lbs (560g) and measures 4.1 x 2.6 x 2.1 inches (10.6 x 6.7 x 5.4cm)
Item # CRBF01170042
Cubic Root Beer Fluorite from Clay Center Ohio
Amazing Rare Root Beer Fluorite Crystals from the famous Clay Center, Ohio locale. This wonderful fluorite shows beautiful cubic formations with white Selenite plates. The surfaces glow a distinct white under SW, MW, and LW Fluorescent light.. A beautiful specimen that has been in our personal display collection since 2004. Pictures were taken outdoors in natural sunlight with a Nikon CoolPix L1 camera. Fluorescent photos taken under "Way Too Cool" 254 nm SW, 312 nm MW and 368 nm LW 9-Watt Triple Wave Lamp.. This is another great display piece!
This specimen weighs 2.1 oz or 0.13lb (59g) and measures 2.3 x 1.5 x 1" (5.7 x 3.8 x 2.5cm)