Detailed information
Species
Fluorite
Dimensions
50 x 80 x 45
mm
Locality
Hilton Mine Scordale, Cumbria England
Condition
No recorded repairs
Hilton mine is near to the head of Scordale and a few kilometres northeast of the town of Appleby. While working, Hilton produced lead and baryte while very few Fluorite specimens were encountered or kept. However, when long since abandoned, mine explorers in the late 1970s and early 1980s dug out some old levels and hence the wonderful yellow Fluorite was discovered. This is a magnificent Hilton Fluorite because of its arresting colour and gem quality. Cubic Fluorite crystals cover the top of a massive Fluorite matrix, possibly mixed with some Calcite. The largest Fluorite crystal is the best, with an interpenetrant twin measuring up to 2.3 cm long, of exceptional transparency and completely gemmy. The smaller Fluorite crystals tend to be encrusted with micro-sucrosic textured Calcite giving a frosted lustre, while the larger Fluorites are a magnificent deep lemon yellow. Many crystal faces, especially those of the larger and more gemmy Fluorites, display magnificent natural etching patterns, often as concave four sided pyramids.