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Hajar | profile | all galleries >> Mineral Galleries >> Minerals from the North of England >> Durham Minerals tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Durham Minerals

County Durham is celebrated for the beautiful fluorite crystals produced from its mines and quarries (e.g. http://northernenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2014/11/westgarth-forster-1821-fluor-spar.html and http://northernenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2014/11/glorious-green-fluorite-from-middlehope.html ). Clarke (1819) notes of the beautiful green fluorite crystals found during the autumn of 1818 that "It is only in the flats (i.e. large openings or cavities) of what is called the Eleven Fathom, or Great Limestone, that the finely crystallized and transparent fluor-spar is found." "These cavities .. are generally of inconsiderable extent, but sufficiently capacious to admit a man standing upright .."

Other minerals, such as the alstonite, witherite ( http://northernenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2014/11/barium-mineralization-in-new-brancepeth.html ), aragonite, barite, anglesite, and quartz shown here, also occur.

These specimens come from the northern part of the North Pennine Orefield, corresponding to the Alston Block.
Pyrrhotite crystals in 25 mm curved group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
Pyrrhotite crystals in 25 mm curved group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Pyrrhotite crystals in 2 cm group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
Pyrrhotite crystals in 2 cm group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Pyrrhotite crystals in 3 cm curved group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
Pyrrhotite crystals in 3 cm curved group. Cambokeels Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 6 mm spray of millerite crystals in concretion from mudstones above Great Limestone. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.
6 mm spray of millerite crystals in concretion from mudstones above Great Limestone. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.		 Spray of millerite crystals with chalcopyrite and quartz. Field of view 9 mm. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.
Spray of millerite crystals with chalcopyrite and quartz. Field of view 9 mm. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.
5 mm millerite crystal and quartz sceptre. Coldberry Gutter, Middleton-in-Teesdale Co Durham.
5 mm millerite crystal and quartz sceptre. Coldberry Gutter, Middleton-in-Teesdale Co Durham.		 6 mm spray of millerite crystals in concretion from mudstones above Great Limestone. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.
6 mm spray of millerite crystals in concretion from mudstones above Great Limestone. Coldberry Gutter, Co Durham.		 Greenockite on 2 cm matrix. Willyhole Mine, Harwood, Teesdale, Co Durham.
Greenockite on 2 cm matrix. Willyhole Mine, Harwood, Teesdale, Co Durham.		 3 cm interpenetrant twin of purple fluorite from the Frazers Hush Mine, Weardale, County Durham.
3 cm interpenetrant twin of purple fluorite from the Frazers Hush Mine, Weardale, County Durham.		 3 cm interpenetrant twin of purple fluorite from the Frazers Hush Mine, Weardale, County Durham.
3 cm interpenetrant twin of purple fluorite from the Frazers Hush Mine, Weardale, County Durham.
Fluorite colour-zoned interpenetrant twins to 2 cm on 10 cm drusy quartz matrix, Cambokeels Mine.
Fluorite colour-zoned interpenetrant twins to 2 cm on 10 cm drusy quartz matrix, Cambokeels Mine.		 Cambokeels twinned fluorite on quartz, crystals to 15 mm, 6 cm specimen.
Cambokeels twinned fluorite on quartz, crystals to 15 mm, 6 cm specimen.		 Fluorite colourless twin, 2 cm, Cambokeels Mine.
Fluorite colourless twin, 2 cm, Cambokeels Mine.		 Rose fluorite crystals to 14 mm on edge on 7 cm matrix, Red Vein Pocket, Ripon's Vein, Stanhopeburn. Collected by Robert Lawson.
Rose fluorite crystals to 14 mm on edge on 7 cm matrix, Red Vein Pocket, Ripon's Vein, Stanhopeburn. Collected by Robert Lawson.		 Fluorite penetration twin, 25 mm. Blackdene Mine, Weardale, Co Durham. Ex Arthur Scoble.
Fluorite penetration twin, 25 mm. Blackdene Mine, Weardale, Co Durham. Ex Arthur Scoble.
Transparent green fluorite crystals to 22 mm on edge in 10 cm group. Middlehope Shields Mine, Westgate, Weardale, County Durham.
Transparent green fluorite crystals to 22 mm on edge in 10 cm group. Middlehope Shields Mine, Westgate, Weardale, County Durham.		 Detail of Middlehope Shield (Old Vein) green fluorite showing thin purple phantoms in a crystal 22 mm on edge.
Detail of Middlehope Shield (Old Vein) green fluorite showing thin purple phantoms in a crystal 22 mm on edge. 		Transparent green fluorite crystals to 22 mm on edge in 10 cm group. Middlehope Shields Mine, Westgate, Weardale, County Durham.
Transparent green fluorite crystals to 22 mm on edge in 10 cm group. Middlehope Shields Mine, Westgate, Weardale, County Durham.		 Heights Mine fluorite, 5 cm, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham. Beautiful sharp, undamaged, gemmy crystals.
Heights Mine fluorite, 5 cm, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham. Beautiful sharp, undamaged, gemmy crystals.		 Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.
Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.
Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.
Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, 3 cm specimen. Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.
Purple to green zoned fluorite in 18 mm interpenetrant twin, 3 cm specimen. Blue Circle Quarry, Eastgate, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Glassy fluorite penetration twins to 13 mm with calcite on 8 cm matrix, Height's Cross Vein, nr Westgate, Weardale.
Glassy fluorite penetration twins to 13 mm with calcite on 8 cm matrix, Height's Cross Vein, nr Westgate, Weardale.		 Fluorite twin with quartz crystals, 38 mm, 430 level, Greencleugh Mine, Rookhope, Co Durham
Fluorite twin with quartz crystals, 38 mm, 430 level, Greencleugh Mine, Rookhope, Co Durham		 Fluorite penetration twin (35 mm on edge) with galena (3 cm crystal) and calcite, 8 cm specimen, Boltsburn Mine, Co Durham.
Fluorite penetration twin (35 mm on edge) with galena (3 cm crystal) and calcite, 8 cm specimen, Boltsburn Mine, Co Durham.
Fluorite twin, 65 mm, hexoctahedral and shallow tetrahexahedral faces are seen. Boltsburn Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
Fluorite twin, 65 mm, hexoctahedral and shallow tetrahexahedral faces are seen. Boltsburn Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Boltsburn fluorite crystal forms
Boltsburn fluorite crystal forms		 elongate lilac fluorite, 56 mm long, 10 mm wide, from Blackdene Mine, Weardale, Durham.
elongate lilac fluorite, 56 mm long, 10 mm wide, from Blackdene Mine, Weardale, Durham.		 Elongate fluorite end view showing early core left behind in one corner.
Elongate fluorite end view showing early core "left behind" in one corner.		 5 cm Fluorite euhedron, Boltsburn Mine, Weardale, Co Durham
5 cm Fluorite euhedron, Boltsburn Mine, Weardale, Co Durham
Fluorite crystals, to 4 cm in an 8 cm group, from the recent mining activities at Greenlaws Mine, Daddry Shield, Weardale.
Fluorite crystals, to 4 cm in an 8 cm group, from the recent mining activities at Greenlaws Mine, Daddry Shield, Weardale.		 Yellow to blue zoned fluorite crystal, Swinhope Head Mine, Weardale, England, 21 mm along edge.
Yellow to blue zoned fluorite crystal, Swinhope Head Mine, Weardale, England, 21 mm along edge.		 Fluorite crystals to 16 mm on edge in 3 cm group. Burtree Slitts, Queensberry Iron works, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.
Fluorite crystals to 16 mm on edge in 3 cm group. Burtree Slitts, Queensberry Iron works, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Fluorite with calcite. Pike Law, Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. 6 cm specimen with fluorites to 5 mm.
Fluorite with calcite. Pike Law, Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. 6 cm specimen with fluorites to 5 mm.		 5 cm matrix with purple fluorite penetration twins to 8 mm. Quarry Hill Vein, East Newlandside Quarry, Stanhope, Co Durham.
5 cm matrix with purple fluorite penetration twins to 8 mm. Quarry Hill Vein, East Newlandside Quarry, Stanhope, Co Durham.
Fluorite interpenetration twins to 8 mm with fine complex crystals (hexoctahedra) on 4 cm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Co Durham.
Fluorite interpenetration twins to 8 mm with fine complex crystals (hexoctahedra) on 4 cm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Co Durham.		 Fluorite, ca 7 mm interpentrant twin on 25 mm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.
Fluorite, ca 7 mm interpentrant twin on 25 mm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Fluorite, ca 6 mm interpentrant twin with hexoctahedral corner on 16 mm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.
Fluorite, ca 6 mm interpentrant twin with hexoctahedral corner on 16 mm matrix. Burtree Slitts, Cowshill, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Fluorite twin, ca 3 mm across showing trapezohedral corners. California Mine, Little Eggleshope, Teesdale, Co Durham.
Fluorite twin, ca 3 mm across showing trapezohedral corners. California Mine, Little Eggleshope, Teesdale, Co Durham.		 Fluorite, Hollywell Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, Co Durham, 45mm.
Fluorite, Hollywell Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, Co Durham, 45mm.
Fluorite crystals to about 2 cm in 4 cm group. High Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co Durham.
Fluorite crystals to about 2 cm in 4 cm group. High Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co Durham.		 Tabular fluorite crystals to 4 mm on 4 cm matrix. Old Towns Quarry, Aycliffe, Co Durham.
Tabular fluorite crystals to 4 mm on 4 cm matrix. Old Towns Quarry, Aycliffe, Co Durham.		 Fluorite West Pasture green streak
Fluorite West Pasture green streak		 Fluorite crystals to 6 mm in 85 mm group. Middlegrove Vein, Killhope, Weardale, Co Durham.
Fluorite crystals to 6 mm in 85 mm group. Middlegrove Vein, Killhope, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Cambokeels calcite, 45 mm on quartz
Cambokeels calcite, 45 mm on quartz
Calcite, 14 cm specimen with rhombohedral crystals to 35 mm. Cambokeels, Weardale.
Calcite, 14 cm specimen with rhombohedral crystals to 35 mm. Cambokeels, Weardale.		 Calcite prism and rhomb crystals to 4 cm in 6 cm group. Cambokeels Mine, Co Durham, UK.
Calcite prism and rhomb crystals to 4 cm in 6 cm group. Cambokeels Mine, Co Durham, UK.		 32 mm specimen with sharp transparent colourless calcite prisms to 9 mm with stepped flat terminations. Frazer's Hush, Co Durham
32 mm specimen with sharp transparent colourless calcite prisms to 9 mm with stepped flat terminations. Frazer's Hush, Co Durham		 Calcite, tabular rhombohedra to 63 mm across in 13 cm group on fluorite, Weardale, with a Wilhelm Maucher (1879-1930) label.
Calcite, tabular rhombohedra to 63 mm across in 13 cm group on fluorite, Weardale, with a Wilhelm Maucher (1879-1930) label.		 Aragonite crystals, Broadwood Quarry, Frosterley, Weardale, Co. Durham.
Aragonite crystals, Broadwood Quarry, Frosterley, Weardale, Co. Durham.
Cerussite crystals to about 1 cm on 45 mm matrix. Park Burn Mine, Westgate, Weardale, Co Durham.
Cerussite crystals to about 1 cm on 45 mm matrix. Park Burn Mine, Westgate, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Alstonite pseudohexagonal bipyramids to 5 mm on witherite tabular pseudohexagonal twins with baryte, 7 cm, New Brancepeth
Alstonite pseudohexagonal bipyramids to 5 mm on witherite tabular pseudohexagonal twins with baryte, 7 cm, New Brancepeth		 Alstonite pseudohexagonal bipyramids to 5 mm on witherite tabular pseudohexagonal twins with baryte, 7 cm, New Brancepeth
Alstonite pseudohexagonal bipyramids to 5 mm on witherite tabular pseudohexagonal twins with baryte, 7 cm, New Brancepeth		 Barytocalcite crystals (to 5 mm), sharp and unaltered, from Hunters Vein, Fosters Hush, Lunedale, Co Durham.
Barytocalcite crystals (to 5 mm), sharp and unaltered, from Hunters Vein, Fosters Hush, Lunedale, Co Durham.		 Anglesite crystals to 3 mm, Dry Pry Vein, Burn Hill, Frosterley, Durham.
Anglesite crystals to 3 mm, Dry Pry Vein, Burn Hill, Frosterley, Durham.
Annabergite, 45 mm specimen. Lady's Rake Mine, Harwood, Teesdale, Co Durham.
Annabergite, 45 mm specimen. Lady's Rake Mine, Harwood, Teesdale, Co Durham.		 22 mm doubly-terminated quartz with fluorite (46 mm), West Pasture Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
22 mm doubly-terminated quartz with fluorite (46 mm), West Pasture Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 22 mm doubly-terminated quartz with fluorite (46 mm), West Pasture Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.
22 mm doubly-terminated quartz with fluorite (46 mm), West Pasture Mine, Weardale, Co Durham.		 Fluorapophyllite, in sharp crystals to about 3 mm, Whin Sill, Cambokeels Mine, Co. Durham.
Fluorapophyllite, in sharp crystals to about 3 mm, Whin Sill, Cambokeels Mine, Co. Durham.		 Fluorapophyllite, in sharp crystals to about 3 mm, Whin Sill, Cambokeels Mine, Co. Durham.
Fluorapophyllite, in sharp crystals to about 3 mm, Whin Sill, Cambokeels Mine, Co. Durham.

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