Fluorite- “The Ax”
Greenlaws Mine, Daddry Shield, Weardale, County Durham, England
Dimensions: 15.6 × 10.6 × 4.8 cm
Provenance: Greenlaws Mine locality attribution provided with specimen.
A double-sided Fluorite specimen from Greenlaws Mine in Weardale, England, affectionately nicknamed “The Ax” for its distinctive, angular silhouette. This substantial cabinet specimen features an impressive arrangement of sharply defined cubic Fluorite crystals in beautiful shades of smoky lavender, soft violet, and deep plum purple.
Both sides of the specimen are extensively crystallized, creating a remarkable display of intergrown twinned Fluorite cubes with brilliant reflective faces, subtle color zoning, and fascinating internal growth features. Larger crystals project outward among densely packed smaller cubes, producing a richly textured, three-dimensional surface. The specimen's unusual wedge-shaped profile gives it a striking sculptural appearance, while its double-sided crystallization offers multiple attractive viewing angles. The reverse reveals another intricate generation of smaller cubic crystals, accented by areas of warm, iron-rich mineralization that contrast beautifully with the cool purple Fluorite.
Greenlaws Mine is one of the most celebrated modern Fluorite localities in England's historic Weardale mining district. Its specimens are particularly prized for their distinctive purple coloration, complex crystal growth, and frequently remarkable fluorescence.
