Green Fluorite · Supernova Pocket

Description

A sculptural 407 g cluster of green cubic Fluorite from the October 2022 Supernova Pocket find. Overlapping cubes, stepped growth and varied green zoning give this British cabinet specimen a striking architectural form.

This natural, unpolished Fluorite is attributed to the Supernova Pocket on the Sutcliffe Vein at Diana Maria Mine. Broad cubic faces rise above intergrown crystals, with stepped edges and contrasting pale and deep green areas. The specimen is securely mounted for cabinet display.

The supplied provenance identifies the pocket discovery as October 2022. The specimen is reported to show strong blue fluorescence under UV light; the UV response is not pictured here.

The open areas described in this piece contribute to its depth. Rather than a continuous flat surface, the growth can be followed around recesses and across changes in level. These spaces help distinguish the larger outline from the finer crystalline texture and give the specimen detail that can be appreciated as part of its three-dimensional form.

Fluorite is calcium fluoride and crystallises in the cubic system. Cubes and octahedra are among its familiar forms, but intergrowths, modified faces and changes during growth can produce much more complex outlines. This combination of recognisable geometry and considerable variation makes Fluorite a rewarding mineral to collect by both crystal habit and locality.

Fluorite can be colourless or show a wide range of colours, sometimes within one specimen. Transparency, crystal thickness and illumination influence how those colours appear. Its glassy faces contrast with more textured areas and any accompanying matrix. Colour zoning and fluorescence are separate properties; a particular response under ultraviolet light should only be expected where it has been recorded for the individual piece.

The recorded origin is Sutcliffe Vein, Diana Maria Mine, Weardale, County Durham, England. Within a collection of Fluorite specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

Care: Lift by the mount where possible, protect crystal edges from knocks and keep out of prolonged direct sunlight.