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Jesse Fisher
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 629
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: May 11, 2017 14:59 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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While it is difficult to tell from one photo, the tan color of the matrix suggests that the specimen may be from White's Level, Middlehope. There was a very large find there around 1818 and many specimens of green twinned fluorite ended up in museum collections that date to the mid 19th century. The specimens, if given a specific location, are usually attributed to the Heights Mine. Heights fluorite is usually on a dark ironstone matrix while the specimens from Middlehope are on a buff to tan colored matrix. The green color of the fluorite has usually faded a bit from 200 years of exposure to daylight. Here is a photo of a specimen that I believe came from this find.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Middlehope Shield Mine, White's level, Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 9x4x4 cm overall size |
Description: |
Specimen is likely from a large find that occurred circa 1818. |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 18, 2017 17:40 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Fluorite from a lesser-known Weardale location. This thumbnail specimen is from Shield Close level in Middlehope.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Middlehope Shield Mine, Shield Close level, Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 2.5cm |
Description: |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 18, 2017 17:44 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Another thumbnail from another lesser-known Weardale location. Fluorite from Middlegrove vein, Killhope.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Killhope Mine, Middlegrove vein, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 3cm |
Description: |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
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Posted: May 19, 2017 09:14 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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An originality
Mineral: | Cerussite coated by an unidentified copper salt |
Locality: | Redburn Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | Specimen size: 3.7 × 2.8 × 2.2 cm |
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Mineral: | Cerussite coated by an unidentified copper salt |
Locality: | Redburn Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | Main crystal size: 1.8 × 0.3 cm |
Description: |
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Jesse Fisher
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 629
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: May 19, 2017 11:36 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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The Redburn Mine was a major fluorspar producer during the 1970s, but never the source of many specimens. This fluorite came from the Arthur Scoble collection, and his label indicates that it was found in 1974. Like so many recent mines in Weardale, the site was completely cleared after the mine closed and it is now very difficult to find any trace of it.
Mineral: | Fluorite on Quartz |
Locality: | Redburn Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 5x5x4 cm overall size |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Redburn Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Description: |
A photo of the Redburn Mine site, taken sometime around the mid 1970s. |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 19, 2017 16:19 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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The headframe at Redburn was left standing when the rest of the site was cleared. This pic was taken in 1984/5 but I'm not sure how long it survived after that.
Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Redburn Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 20, 2017 16:40 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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People tend to think only of Weardale when you mention fluorite from County Durham but Teesdale has also produced some interesting specimens. Nothing like the quantity of its near neighbour and usually not of the quality but still pretty good. Here's a few from Skears Firestone level. Crystals are generally in the order 8-12mm. I should add that the database entry of 'Skears Mine' is not very accurate as there were two distinct Skears Mines. High Skears worked a totally different set of veins to the Skears low level which was connected internally to the Firestone level and worked as a single mine.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 8cm |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 20, 2017 16:42 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Fluorite, Skears Firestone level.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 8cm |
Description: |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 20, 2017 16:45 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Fluorite, Skears Firestone level.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 7cm |
Description: |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 20, 2017 17:00 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Middlehope Old Mine when it was being worked for fluorspar in the 1980s. I bought a flat of fluorite specimens from the lad who was working here at the time. They were an unusual oily-green and rather dull colour but useful location pieces. All moved on quickly so no pics.
Locality: | Old Middlehope Mine, Ireshopeburn, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 20, 2017 17:13 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Another Teesdale fluorite, this time from Langdon mines, Langdon Beck. Untwinned crystals on goethite/limonite matrix.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Langdon Mines, Langdon Beck, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 10cm |
Description: |
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Roger Warin
Joined: 23 Jan 2013
Posts: 1178
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Posted: May 21, 2017 09:46 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Maybe chloro-carbonate or carbonate (copper).
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Jesse Fisher
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 629
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: May 21, 2017 11:24 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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A nice double twin from Pike Law, near Newbiggin, in upper Teesdale.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Pike Law Mines, Newbiggin, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 6x4x3 cm overall size |
Description: |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 21, 2017 16:16 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Nice One, Jesse. I recovered this one about 15 years ago. Main crystal is about 2cm. Back in the 80s there was one cavity containing pale green twinned fluorite crystals to 3cm. Green is very uncommon in Teesdale.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Pike Law Mines, Newbiggin, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 8cm |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 21, 2017 16:33 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Goethite from Langdon Mines, Teesdale. No crystals but I still find the structure interesting
Mineral: | Goethite |
Locality: | Langdon Mines, Langdon Beck, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 12cm |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 24, 2017 16:26 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Exploring Skears low level back in the 80s. The top pic shows the level driven through boulder clay where it requires no support. Where it passes through shale it is stone arched but ground pressure frequently causes collapses.
Locality: | Skears Mine, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Jesse Fisher
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 629
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: May 24, 2017 20:34 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Another lesser-known Weardale locality. The Stanhopeburn Mine was worked for fluorspar off and on through much of the 20th century, finally closing around 1985. The mine was not a prolific specimen producer, however. The specimen came with a Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd label which appears to date to the mid 1980s, so it is likely that the specimen dates from the last period of mining.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Stanhopeburn Mine, Crawleyside, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 4x4x3 cm overall |
Description: |
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colin robinson
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Cumbria
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Posted: May 26, 2017 16:16 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Stanhopeburn is probably better known for the cerussite specimens it produced. Some nice fluorites also came out of the limestone quarries and opencut ironstone workings lower down the burn. This 14cm plate is from the Trough vein on the east side of the burn.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Llimestone quarry on the east side of the burn, Trough vein, Stanhope Dene, Crawleyside, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | 14cm |
Description: |
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Jesse Fisher
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 629
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Jun 02, 2017 15:47 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Another relatively unknown Weardale location, the Newlandside Quarry. An open cast stone quarry on the Great Limestone, located south of the River Wear near Stanhope. Quarrying has exposed some mineralized veins that occasionally yield fluorite specimens.
Mineral: | Fluorite |
Locality: | Newlandside Quarry, Stanhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | crystal is 2.2 cm across |
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4112
Location: Germany
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Posted: Jun 03, 2017 08:43 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / County Durham |
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Jesse Fisher wrote: | Fluorite
Newlandside Quarry, Stanhope, Weardale, North Pennines Orefield, County Durham, England, United Kingdom
Description: another nice double twin | Never seen such a well-crystallized double twin of gemmy fluorite, very cool!!!
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