Fluorite ex Dr. S. Moreton Fluorite Coll

Item Description

Impressive and sculptural large mounded 360-degree fluorite from this old well-known lead mine in the famous Weardale area. The striking large cubes at the crest of the densely intergrown cluster reach 5.1 x 4.3 x 3.9 cm. The lustrous bi-colored cubes, mostly a rich purple with striking and typical interior white to oxide-yellow patches have many gem edges and corners nicely accented by faint phantoms. The hoppered prism faces add even more character. Complete all-around and essentially pristine, with only small corner bruise to the topmost cube. The piece is actually a STALACTITE, as there are two holes in the broken base, where the precipitating fluids flowed! Ex Dr. Stephen Moreton Collection, collected in 2005 and illustrated in the MINDAT Photo Gallery for the locale with a 2018 photo. Dr. Moreton was the author of a 2005 article on the mine in the Journal of the Russell Society. This historic mine was active from 1850-1884, but was reopened in 2010 with the purpose of collecting fluorite specimens and studying the deposits around Weardale (MINDAT). BRIGHT fluorescence under any bright light and UV light! Valued at $2000-2500 in our acquisition of the Moreton collection a few years ago.