TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet


Fluorita Dorada

Fluorita is a mineral with formula CaF₂, in the Haluros group. This specimen comes from Mina Moscona, El Pontón de Solís, Corvera, Asturias, España and joined the Terrium collection in 1995.

Fluorita Dorada from Mina Moscona, El Pontón de Solís, Corvera, Asturias, España — Terrium

Description

Intergrown aggregate of small yellow (golden) cubic fluorite crystals, overlain by a layer of lenticular dolomite. Very good crystallisation and lustre in both. Micro-specks of chalcopyrite. Fluorescent and slightly phosphorescent.

About Fluorita

This is the typical fluorite from the Moscona Mine: golden yellow, with or without a calcite or dolomite rim. It is the only Asturian local type in which phosphorescence occurs with some regularity.

About the locality

One of the largest and more recent (1968) fluorite deposits in Asturias and in Europe. The gallery network is so extensive that it takes about an hour, or even a little more, by truck from the portal to the furthest working faces. It has produced millions of crystallised fluorite specimens, together with dolomite and barite, among them many reference pieces for European collecting. Its barite usually comes out white, but in many cases turns blue after exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0017
Composition
CaF₂
Name
Fluorita
Variety
Dorada
Group
Haluros
Category
Cresta Montis
Associations
dolomita, calcopirita
Mine
Mina Moscona
District / Municipality
El Pontón de Solís
Province
Corvera
Region
Asturias
Country
España
Size (cm)
5.6 x 3.2 x 2.4
Weight
51.5 g
Acquired
1995
Etymology
From the Latin "fluere", 'to flow', in reference to its historical use as a flux.
Quality
Muy buena
Value trend
Estable

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