FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Antonio Alcaide]

The list so far:

EUROPE

United Kingdom

1. Weardale, North Pennines, Durham (including Rogerley, Boltsburn Mine, Heights Mine, Blue Circle Cement Quarry)
2. Rotherhope Fell Mine, North Pennines,Cumbria
3. Hilton Mine, Scordale, North Pennines, Cumbria
4. Castleton, Derbyshire
5. Crich Quarry, Crich, Derbyshire

Germany

6. Freiberg, Saxony
7. Wölsendorf, Bavaria
8. Clara Mine, Baden-Württemberg
9. Rottleberode, Stolberg, Harz Mts, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
10. Zehntausend Ritter Mine, Frohnau, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

Switzerland

11. Zingenstock-Gerstenegg-Sommerloch (no fluorites here on Mindat)
12. Planggenstock Mt., Göscheneralp, Göschenen Valley, Uri, Switzerland

Italy

13. Is Murvonis Mine, Domusnovas, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Sardinia, Italy

France

14. Le Burg
15. Mont Blanc, French Alps

Spain

16. La Collada Mine, La Collada area, Siero, Asturias
17. Berbes Mine, Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias
18. Mina Jaimina, Caravia, Ribadesella, Asturies
19. Emilio Mine, El Fito, Loroñe, Villaviciosa, Asturias
20. Arteixo, A Coruña (La Coruña)

Sweden

21. Malmberget, Gällivare, Lappland

Norway

22. Kongsberg silver Mines, Buskerud Fylke

Austria

23. Weißeck Mt. (incl. Rauchkopf Mt.; Rieding lake; Riedingscharte), Murwinkel, Lungau, Salzburg
24. Hirschau quarry, Böckstein, Gastein valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria

AMERICA

25. Blanchard Mine, New Mexico
26. Fluorspar district, Illinois (Denton, Minerva #1, Annabel Lee, Cave in Rock)
27. Elmwood mine, Carthage, Tennessee
28. Hardin County, Illinois
29. Pine Canyon Deposit, West Burro Mts, Burro Mountains District, Grant Co., New Mexico

MEXICO

30. Naica, Chihuahua

PERU

31. Huanzala Mine

AFRICA

Namibia

32. Okorusu Mine (Okarusu Mine), Otjiwarongo District, Otjozondjupa Region
33. Erongo Mts.

Morocco

34. El Hammam Mine, Mount Hammam, Meknès, Meknès Prefecture, Meknès-Tafilalet Region
35. Erfoud, Er Rachidia Province, Meknès-Tafilalet Region
36. Tounfit, Boumia, Khénifra Province, Meknès-Tafilalet Region

South Africa

37. Riemvasmaak, Kakamas District, Northern Cape Province

ASIA

Pakistan

38. Nagar, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas
39. Chumar Bakhoor, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas

China

40. Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province
41. Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province
42. Xianghualing Mine, Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province
43. Xianghuapu Mine (Maiwan Mine), Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province

India

44. Mahodari, Nasik District, Maharashtra

Japan

45. Obira mine, Ono-gun, Oita prefecture, Kyushu Island

Russia

46. Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region


To Pete M. and those who have given a negative opinion about a future vote: I thing the most important thing is to comment the topic, interchange ideas on fluorites, sharing photos and discussing opposite points of view. The vote is only an addition, a way to make the topic more dynamic. Let’s talk about fluorites. Give the reasons –both scientific or aesthetic- for your passion. Then we can vote if we think it necessary or we are impelled by curiosity.

I strongly encourage you to upload your own photos –I have seen some of you have already fluorite pictures on mindat-.

Tomorrow I’m adding two of my favourite localities for the fluos not mentioned above. Please, report possible mistakes.

Regards,
Antonio

[Jesse Fisher]

Hello Antonio,

To simplify things a bit, the first three entries for the UK should perhaps all be one entry such as "the North Pennines Orefield." All the mines mentioned are part of this geological province. The difference between Durham and Cumbria is simply an arbitrary political boundary that cuts through the middle of the orefield. There are also some good locations in Northumberland, the county to the north of Durham.

The most prolific specimen-producing mines of the region include the Rogerley, Heights, Cambokeels, Eastgate (Blue Circle) Cement Quarry, Blackdene, Boltsburn, and Frazer's Hush in Durham/Weardale, Allenheads and St. Peter's in Northumberland, and Rotherhope Fell and Hilton in Cumbria. A complete list could include many more. If one is to pick a single mine to represent the North Pennines I would vote for the Boltsburn because the quantity and quality of what was found far surpasses all others.

Regards,
Jesse

[Jordi Fabre]

Let me add one more locality: Tule Mine, Melchor Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico. Photo added.

I also added photos of one Fluorite from Tounfit (Tounfite), Boumia, Morocco and another from Elmwood Mine, both already listed.

[Carles Millan]

[Les Presmyk]

Jordi got the next Mexican locale I thought to add to the list. While I agree that selecting the top five fluorite localities may be fraught with uncertaintity and rancorous debate, this exercise is a fun one because we will end up with a comprehensive list of the top fluorite specimen producing locales.

I would also add the New Hampshire locality and we are fast approaching needing to add the Oatman, Arizona fluorite locality. Also, the American Tunnel, Silverton, Colorado could be added. Some of the specimens with rhodochrosite are really quite nice.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Montanpark]

I also would like to add Aouli, Morocco for the beautiful yellow fluos.
Not to forget Valzergues, France; Papiol, Spain; some more Black Forest, GER localities (Wieden area, Hesselbach, etc.). Is Weisseck, Lungau, Austria already on the list?

Now although i have to agree with some of the foreposters that a ranking is far more than subjective it is really a lot of fun dealing with my collection fluos after some time again more intesively. Attached a compilation of some of my favourites as far as i already took photograps...
Maybe we do a quiz ;-) .. from where are the fluos?

Cheers
Roger

[Massonia]

For England I would add the Florence mine (and associated mines) of the West Cumbrian iron ore field, for the classic blue fluorites from there.

[Jesse Fisher]

The iron mines in West Cumbria have, indeed, produced some nice blue fluorites. The mines were, however, far from prolific in this respect and few collectors outside the UK are likely to ever encounter one.

[Peter]

Chumar Bakhoor belongs to Sumayar Village (so really should not be called Nagar), although this was the name most commonly used since the late 1980s when specimens became more available from here

[Antonio Alcaide]

Hi again:

Thank to your contribution I will be able to improve the list. Jordi has mentioned Melchor Musquiz, Cohauhila, Mexico, one of the my favourites. Perfect. Roger also has written Papiol, Spain. I pretended to do it today. Well, we are drawing up the list. You have shared photos too.

I'm going to give my reasons for Melchor Musquiz: their pieces show characteristic stepped pattern I love. It's the perfection of the cubic system: each cube formed by dozens of microcubes. I think it could be a fractal structure as far as I understand maths. Fractal beauty and art too. The colour saturation as well. Some pieces are almost opaque. Odd beauty.

I'll remake the list simplifying localities in a few days (thanks Jessie for the comments about Wearsdale and Mts. Pennines). The same for Pakistan. But I am still dubious about the localities from Illinois USA ¿can we put them all into one group?

I suggest we can add localities, preferences, photos and comments until the end of the next week (or sooner if the matter declines). After that we can vote via mp.

Regards,
Antonio

[James Catmur]

Here are some photos, but I have yet to learn how to do good ones so just hope that they do these specimens justice

james

[Les Presmyk]

No one has mentioned the fluorites on celestite blades up to 20cm from Muzquiz. These are the real classics from this area.

[Carles Millan]

A fluorite from Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee.

[Carles Millan]

Another fluorite from Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee.