Detailed information
Species
Fluorite, Chalcopyrite
Dimensions
100 x 177 x 66
mm
Locality
Frazer's Hush Mine, Rookhope Weardale, North Pennines Co. Durham, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
This large, cabinet size, display specimen of Frazer's Hush mine Fluorite shows all of the features one has come to expect of specimens from this mine. The whole display surface is covered in a layer of bright purple, glassy, twinned Fluorite cubes. The crystals 'glow' in daylight when the UV wavelengths within the light triggers its purple fluorescence, thus enhancing its natural dark purple colour. The base of the specimen is a coarsely crystallized mass of green and purple zoned Fluorite over which a 1.5 cm layer of quartz has developed. This quartz, which cannot be seen from above, gives the specimen strength and is completely covered with the freestanding display of beautiful, bright, purple fluorite crystals. The Fluorite crystals are remarkably fine with just two, or three, showing cleaved corners, but a trained eye is required to spot this as their lustre remains bright and showy. Some of the lower, smaller Fluorite crystals, display frosted internal areas, but these add to the character of the specimen which is dominated by super bright, highly reflective crystals. The Chalcopyrite is really just a minor feature - the odd millimetre-sized crystal dotted on the surface.