Fluorite from Berbes, Asturias, Spain, one of the classic fluorite localities in Europe at the moment. Given the poor state of the area, the local collectors, who used to find those amazing pockets of fluorite, are finding fewer and fewer good specimens. These are specimens that come from some careful hunting by the locals.
| Fluorite with Barite |
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NK13P1: Cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning, deeper at the center of the crystal. The group is very aerial and it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 4 × 2.3 × 2.7 cm = 1.6” × 0.9” × 1.1”
Main crystal size: 2.2 × 2 cm = 0.9” × 0.8”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite with Barite |
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NJ63P1: Cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning, deeper at the center of the crystal. The crystals it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 4.8 × 3.5 × 3.6 cm = 1.9” × 1.4” × 1.4”
Main crystal size: 2.2 × 1.2 cm = 0.9” × 0.5”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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| Fluorite |
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NR6P1: Cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning, deeper at the center of the crystal. On the back side the group is partially well crystallized and it is partially recrystallized by a contact.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 3.8 × 3.7 × 2.1 cm = 1.5” × 1.5” × 0.8”
Main crystal size: 2.7 × 2.1 cm = 1.1” × 0.8”
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Fluorite with Barite |
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NG13P1: Cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning of the color, deeper at the center of the crystal. The crystals, perfectly individualized, it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 7.2 × 2.9 × 3.6 cm = 2.8” × 1.1” × 1.4”
Main crystal size: 1.6 × 1.4 cm = 0.6” × 0.6”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Barite |
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NH14P1: Cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning, deeper at the center of the crystal. The crystals it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 4.8 × 1.9 × 2.9 cm = 1.9” × 0.7” × 1.1”
Main crystal size: 1.1 × 0.9 cm = 0.4” × 0.4”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite with Barite |
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ND46P1: Group of cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces, having a deep color and geometric color zoning. The crystals it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 6.3 × 4.9 × 3.8 cm = 2.5” × 1.9” × 1.5”
Main crystal size: 3.2 × 2.8 cm = 1.3” × 1.1”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Barite |
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NE66P1: Group of cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces. Of very deep color, the crystals have a very well marked geometric color zoning. The crystals it has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 6.9 × 5 × 3.7 cm = 2.7” × 2.0” × 1.5”
Main crystal size: 2.2 × 2 cm = 0.9” × 0.8”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite with Barite |
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NF26P1: Group of cubic crystals with polysynthetic growths on some of their faces and geometric color zoning, deeper at the center of the crystal. The crystals it has grown on a small matrix of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 5.6 × 4.7 × 3 cm = 2.2” × 1.9” × 1.2”
Main crystal size: 2.7 × 3 cm = 1.1” × 1.2”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Barite |
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NA66P1: Group of cubic crystals of excellent transparency, very deep color and a marked geometrical zoning. The group has grown on an aggregate of white laminar crystals of Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 6 × 4.4 × 3.1 cm = 2.4” × 1.7” × 1.2”
Main crystal size: 3.2 × 2 cm = 1.3” × 0.8”
Barite minor fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite with Barite |
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NR13D9: This consists of small but very transparent crystals of Quartz with the added decoration of some Barite.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain (1998)
Specimen size: 8 × 7 × 4.5 cm = 3.1” × 2.8” × 1.8”
Main crystal size: 0.6 × 0.5 cm = 0.2” × 0.2”
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| Fluorite |
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NN76C6: Gemmy, with nice color, more violet than the usual Berbes' purple fluorite, this specimen shows a special particularity: due to its transparency you can see deposits on the corners of the previous crystals (the phantoms) of the typical black inclusions of natural hydrocarbon, which also show the typical yellow fluorescence, although this is a little bit less intense than usual.
Berbes, Asturias Spain (1970-1990)
Specimen size: 6.8 × 6.2 × 4.4 cm = 2.7” × 2.4” × 1.7”
Former Grello collection
Hydrocarbons fluorescent long & short UV
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Fluorite |
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NB16D9: Crystals of very transparent, intensely colored Fluorite, with a little trace of Barite and Quartz.
La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain (1995)
Specimen size: 10 × 9 × 5.5 cm = 3.9” × 3.5” × 2.2”
Main crystal size: 1 × 0.8 cm = 0.4” × 0.3”
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In Berbes, Asturies, one of the most famous pockets was the pocket of 'Coquera del Liso' found in March 1993. One huge rock, which weighed more than 50 tons, had fallen from the cliffs. Inside this rock local collectors found great water clear Fluorite crystals with naturally modified corners, frequently associated with Quartz and Barite. Fabre Minerals bought the whole pocket. These specimens come from this find.
| Fluorite with Quartz |
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NA13E0: It has small but very transparent crystals of Fluorite that have a very deep color. The contrast with the white quartz matrix, which looks like snow, makes it esthetic.
Coquera del Liso, La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain (1993)
Specimen size: 10.5 × 8.5 × 5.5 cm = 4.1” × 3.3” × 2.2”
Main crystal size: 0.6 × 0.5 cm = 0.2” × 0.2”
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Fluorite with Quartz |
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LAV10I7: Clear and bright cubic crystals whose color varies between pale blue and violet, with very well marked zonations in color. They are on a matrix covered by small Quartz crystals.
Coquera del Liso, La Cabaña, Berbes, Asturias Spain (03/1993)
Specimen size: 6.1 × 3.8 × 4.6 cm = 2.4” × 1.5” × 1.8”
Main crystal size: 1.4 × 1.2 cm = 0.6” × 0.5”
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The "Collada" and "Veneros Norte" veins at La Collada rate among the greatest in Spanish mineralogy. All Spanish collectors dream of having one of the extraordinary specimens in their collection. The specimens have a wide variation in, normally intense, color, modified edges to the crystals, and really very special forms. Although people recently found material in the same region and it is not that distinct from the classic ones, the old timers still have that special something.
| Fluorite with Calcite |
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RA12I2: A typical group from Josefa-Veneros, with beveled edges and the color very much intense on the edges than in the faces of the cube. The specimen can be considered as a classic from the locality.
Filón Josefa-Veneros Norte, La Collada, Asturias Spain (±1974)
Specimen size: 5.6 × 4.2 × 2.7 cm = 2.2” × 1.7” × 1.1”
Main crystal size: 2.6 × 1.1 cm = 1.0” × 0.4”
Calcite fluorescent short UV & low fluorescence long UV
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From when mining ended at La Collada until 1998 almost no new specimens were found in the area. That said there were a few finds, such as the large April 1994 pocket called 'Geoda del Reguerín' which was found near the La Viesca area. The pocket was filled with water, but from beneath the water a large number of specimens emerged, with light sky blue crystals of Fluorite that have pale violet phantoms. While the crystals are not that large they are very transparent, and almost always on Quartz matrix. We bought the majority of this find and have some of them below.
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Fluorite with Quartz |
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NF86M5: Typical sample from the famous El Reguerín pocket, characterized by groups of cubic crystals of beautiful pale blue color with thin geometric violet zoning. The crystals are partially covered by small Quartz crystals, also partially covering the matrix.
Geoda del Reguerín, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (04/1994)
Specimen size: 12 × 9.2 × 7.3 cm = 4.7” × 3.6” × 2.9”
Main crystal size: 3.5 × 3.5 cm = 1.4” × 1.4”
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| Fluorite with Quartz |
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F59YBI7: Very transparent, neat and bright group of cubic crystals. Their color is very pale blue and they are on a matrix covered by small Quartz crystals.
Geoda del Reguerín, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (04/1994)
Specimen size: 6.9 × 5.5 × 3.3 cm = 2.7” × 2.2” × 1.3”
Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.5 cm = 0.6” × 0.6”
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During December of 2001 in the La Collada area of Asturias, Spain, a series of pockets of Fluorite was found. Physically they was found very close to another old find in the "El Reguerín" area, but luckily the color of these specimens is better than those from the previous find. More intense, with a spectacular color change from sky blue to mauve depending the kind of light. Their luster is better too.
As is quite common in the La Collada area these specimens show naturally modified corners.
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Fluorite with Quartz |
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NH87M0: Very transparent group of Fluorite crystals with a pale blue color and geometrical deep pale blue color zoning outlining the orientation of the edges, deepest color on the edges and violet in the inner crystal core. With crystal growths forming tiled and echeloned structures on the cube faces. On a crystallized Quartz matrix. The specimen is from the important find of the year 2001 in the well known pocket of El Reguerín 2.
Geoda del Reguerín 2, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (12/2001)
Specimen size: 16.5 × 9.5 × 6.5 cm = 6.5” × 3.7” × 2.6”
Main crystal size: 2.3 × 2.3 cm = 0.9” × 0.9”
Minor fluorescence long UV
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| Fluorite |
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NP58D9: It has a more intense color than the other specimens and has a very nice architecture. A very esthetic floater.
Geoda del Reguerín 2, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (12/01)
Specimen size: 5.5 × 4 × 3.1 cm = 2.2” × 1.6” × 1.2”
Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.3 cm = 0.6” × 0.5”
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In Spain there are two classic localities for quality Fluorite: Berbes and La Collada. At the latter, extraordinary specimens were found when the mine was worked in the 60s and 70s. Their color varied between blue and green, phantoms were frequently present, and the edges of the crystals were often modified. Between 1998 and 1999 with the aid of heavy equipment, they managed to remove the spoil from an area of the La Collada mine and find a number of reasonably sized pockets with good crystals which are violet or deep blue, and often have phantoms. From these finds we were able to present the following specimens.
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Fluorite |
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N86RI0: A classic specimen from La Collada in which we note the blue color with violet shades and the bevels and echelon growths on the edges.
Geoda Destartalada, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (03/1999)
Specimen size: 9.5 × 8.5 × 4.3 cm = 3.7” × 3.3” × 1.7”
Main crystal size: 6.4 × 4.5 cm = 2.5” × 1.8”
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| Fluorite with Quartz |
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N27AL5: Cubic Fluorite crystals with polysynthetic growths that form tiled structures on the cube faces. We would like to emphasize the geometric color zoning, very intense, with colors that vary from the sky blue, a little greenish, in the external zones to the deepest violet, with a medium lilac zone, and bluish gray in the crystal core.
Geoda del Tiro, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (11/1998)
Specimen size: 9.5 × 8 × 7.3 cm = 3.7” × 3.1” × 2.9”
Main crystal size: 5.7 × 3.8 cm = 2.2” × 1.5”
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Fluorite with Quartz |
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N14WL5: Group of cubic Fluorite crystals, very transparent, with geometric color zoning. The cube faces shows a later formed crystal growth phase with curious echelon growths on the edges. On a matrix covered by small Quartz crystals.
Geoda del Tiro, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (11/1998)
Specimen size: 9 × 6.2 × 4.7 cm = 3.5” × 2.4” × 1.9”
Main crystal size: 1.9 × 1.5 cm = 0.7” × 0.6”
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At the end of the month of May 2003 in the La Collada mining area they found a superb pocket the size of at least two cars and full of crystallized specimens. This pocket was named "Tres de La Collada" for the name of the area where it was found and it supplied more than 6000 specimens. That seems like a lot of specimens, but as is usual in this kind of find, only a few of this huge total had "collector quality". Well connected with all main Spanish finds, we went there immediately and we made a significant selection of our favorite specimens.
In some cases (the bluer ones) the shape is very similar to the famous old classic La Collada Fluorite, with naturally modified corners. In other cases (the more violet ones) they are completely different from the others found at this locality in the past. The white Quartz matrix in a few specimens completes the fame of the find.
As usual with La Collada classic specimens, the surface of the crystals is not that brilliant, but rather slightly glazed. This is due to a second generation of globular Fluorite (by the way very similar to the new Indian ones) partially covering the surface of the crystals. When viewed with a magnifying glass it is spectacular as it looks like sea waves.
Please note that all the specimens are shown with two kind of lights: fluorescent or day light and bulb light. The color depends so much on which of these two light sources is used that we preferred to display them in the two different lights.
| Fluorite |
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NY88M5: Aggregate of cubic crystals with echeloning on the edges and vertices. The color, very deep, masks the real transparency of the crystals and the presence of geometric zoning in them.
Tres de La Collada, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (05/2003)
Specimen size: 15 × 13.5 × 7.5 cm = 5.9” × 5.3” × 3.0”
Main crystal size: 3.1 × 3.1 cm = 1.2” × 1.2”
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Fluorite |
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NR46E4: A single crystal with good form and size, which is associated with other smaller ones. It clearly shows the different colored growth phantoms.
Tres de La Collada, La Viesca, La Collada, Asturias Spain (05/2003)
Specimen size: 6 × 5 × 4 cm = 2.4” × 2.0” × 1.6”
Main crystal size: 3.5 × 3 cm = 1.4” × 1.2”
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Bulb light |
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| Fluorite with Quartz |
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NK10L3: Group of beveled cubic crystals, between translucent and transparent, with marked deep color zoning. On a matrix partially covered by small and brilliant Quartz crystals.
Coquera de la Calcita, La Viesca-La Collada, Asturias Spain (01/2004)
Specimen size: 8.5 × 5.1 × 4 cm = 3.3” × 2.0” × 1.6”
Main crystal size: 3.2 × 2.9 cm = 1.3” × 1.1”
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At the Jaimina mine, Caravia, Asturias, Spain, are found tetrahexaedrical Fluorite with very interesting crystallography. They are associated with Barite and Calcite, sometimes with Chalcopyrite inclusions too.
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Fluorite with Chalcopyrite inclusions |
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N40ZF: Tetrahexahedral form and with Calcite, Barite and Chalcopyrite inclusions (1995)
Mina Jaimina, Caravia, Asturias Spain (1995)
Specimen size: 5.5 × 6 cm = 2.2” × 2.4”
Main crystal size: Jaimina Mine cm = 0.0”
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| Fluorite with Calcite and Quartz |
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NH61H9: Group of crystals of excellent color and luster and a very marked zonation, on a matrix of Quartz with a twin of two scalenohedrons of Calcite, very well defined and bright.
Mina Jaimina, Caravia, Asturias Spain (2002)
Specimen size: 9.2 × 7.5 × 5 cm = 3.6” × 3.0” × 2.0”
Main crystal size: 1.3 × 1.1 cm = 0.5” × 0.4”
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The Fluorite from the Emilio Mine is known for its incredible transparency and brilliance. When these two aspects come together with the fact that the majority of specimens are colorless they become almost invisible. So one can see the matrix through the crystals as well as other minerals under them or included in them.
Very few perfect specimens are found, as the type of deposit makes collecting them very hard, so any undamaged ones that do come out are highly sought after by both Spanish and other collectors.
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Fluorite |
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NP12F2: A growth form that is quite uncommon and that shows off the intense zoning of the crystals. The edges appear to be rounded by the rough forms of the pyramid that, curiously, is not visible in the center of the faces.
Zona intermedia, Mina Emilio, El Fito, Loroñe, Asturias Spain (09-11/04)
Specimen size: 7 × 9 × 3.5 cm = 2.8” × 3.5” × 1.4”
Main crystal size: 2.5 × 2.5 cm = 1.0” × 1.0”
Fluorescent long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Calcite and Dolomite |
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MG6K0: Transparent, clear lilac cubic crystals with geometric zones of deeper coloration, on a matrix of scalenohedral crystals of Calcite and white crystals of Dolomite with very curved faces and edges.
Mina Emilio, El Fito, Loroñe, Asturias Spain (02/2004)
Specimen size: 8.3 × 5.9 × 4.3 cm = 3.3” × 2.3” × 1.7”
Main crystal size: 0.8 × 0.7 cm = 0.3” × 0.3”
Calcite fluorescent long & short UV
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For many years under the general locality 'Villabona' many nice lemon yellow Fluorites have appeared on the market, often associated with saddle Dolomite and often quite large Calcite which has interesting crystal form and is white to yellow in color. Less frequently they were associated with blue, white and once in a while yellow Barite. Pyrite and Marcasite completed the paragenesis.
As so often happens, production has dropped over the last few years and, while the mine is still active, almost no new material has been found.
If you want to know more about Moscona Mine please follow this link
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Fluorite with Dolomite |
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NP60K7: Cubic honey yellow fluorite with small so-called saddle-shaped white Dolomite crystals.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain (±1995)
Specimen size: 6 × 5.7 × 2.7 cm = 2.4” × 2.2” × 1.1”
Main crystal size: 0.7 × 0.6 cm = 0.3” × 0.2”
Fluorescent long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Calcite |
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NY14K7: Good brilliance, transparency and honey yellow cubic Fluorite group. The prominent Calcite has a rare multiple termination.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain (±1995)
Specimen size: 8.7 × 6.9 × 2.5 cm = 3.4” × 2.7” × 1.0”
Main crystal size: 0.9 × 0.9 cm = 0.4” × 0.4”
Intense zoned fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite |
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NX11D9: Very lively yellow color with a little bit of white Barite and some Pyrite, the latter two both in the form of small crystals on the Fluorite.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain (1994)
Specimen size: 10 × 8 × 4 cm = 3.9” × 3.1” × 1.6”
Main crystal size: 0.8 × 0.8 cm = 0.3” × 0.3”
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| Calcite with Dolomite and Fluorite |
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NX17K7: White Calcite group of scalenohedrons, twined and doubly terminated, partially covered by small white saddle-shaped Dolomite crystals, on matrix.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain (±1995)
Specimen size: 8.4 × 6.5 × 5.7 cm = 3.3” × 2.6” × 2.2”
Main crystal size: 5.9 × 2.2 cm = 2.3” × 0.9”
Calcite fluorescent long & short UV
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Barite with Calcite and Fluorite |
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NY37D9: It is a floater, with good color and brilliance in the Fluorite, and also with small crystals of Pyrite peppering the whole of the specimen. Elegant.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain (1995)
Specimen size: 13 × 13 × 4.5 cm = 5.1” × 5.1” × 1.8”
Fluorite extremely fluorescent long & short UV
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| Fluorite with Calcite |
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VC25I7: Scalenohedral crystal, clear and neat, of well defined and bright faces and edges. Its tip is partially covered by a group of cubic, very bright honey-yellow crystals of Fluorite.
Mina Moscona, Solís, Corvera, Asturias Spain
Specimen size: 3.8 × 2.5 × 2.1 cm = 1.5” × 1.0” × 0.8”
Main crystal size: 2 × 1.4 cm = 0.8” × 0.6”
Intense fluorescence short UV & fluorescent long UV
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Octahedral Fluorite on granite from Berta quarry. This octahedral Fluorite is extremely fluorescent with ultraviolet light. It is considered to be a classic mineral from Spain. Lots of local collectors learnt mineralogy in this small quarry close to Barcelona.
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Octahedral Fluorite |
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NH12F2: The most notable thing about this one is the good separation of the octahedral crystals on the matrix. This is quite uncommon as they normally grow in cracks as veins.
Papiol, Berta Quarry, Barcelona Spain
Specimen size: 7 × 6.5 × 4 cm = 2.8” × 2.6” × 1.6”
Main crystal size: 1.2 × 1 cm = 0.5” × 0.4”
Extremely fluorescent long & short UV
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| Octahedral Fluorite |
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R57FI0: Crystals from this site grew as very close groups in which it is difficult to define the crystalline forms. On this specimen, however, there is an isolated sharp octahedron, very bright and of extraordinary emerald green color.
Papiol, Berta Quarry, Barcelona Spain
Specimen size: 4.2 × 4.2 × 3 cm = 1.7” × 1.7” × 1.2”
Main crystal size: 0.8 × 0.6 cm = 0.3” × 0.2”
Intense fluorescence long & short UV
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Fluorite with Calcite |
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ND62P2: Group of cubic crystals slightly beveled by the dodecahedron. They have an excellent transparency, luster and color, lilac with mauve shades. The group is partially surrounded by scalenohedral, very acute and doubly terminated, crystals of Calcite
Cantera de Yanci, Yanci (Igantzi), Navarra Spain (03/2009)
Specimen size: 5.3 × 3 × 2.4 cm = 2.1” × 1.2” × 0.9”
Main crystal size: 0.7 × 0.6 cm = 0.3” × 0.2”
Minor fluorescence long & short UV
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