Fluorita Tetraquishexaédrica
Fluorita is a mineral with formula CaF₂, in the Haluros group. This specimen comes from Mina Jaimina, Carrales, Caravia, Asturias, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Group of translucent tetrahexahedral crystals with satin lustre. This complex geometry—where each original square face is divided into four triangles—is an uncommon mineralogical exception in the region.
History of this specimen
Piece acquired at my first Salamanca fair (my second fair overall). I bought it from Geoterra Minerales, who reduced the price considerably on seeing my interest. We had hit it off over the purchase of the Uchucchacua rhodochrosite and other pieces; they took it from one of their reserved boxes and explained the rarity of its crystallisation. I liked it from the first moment. These complex forms are typical of the Jaimina and Emilio mines.
About Fluorita
Fluorite crystallises in the cubic system and admits a very wide range of habits. In the tetrahexahedron, each cube face is "multiplied" into four triangles and the crystal gains new edges and planes, giving a very recognisable geometry. This morphology is uncommon in Asturias and attracts crystallography collectors, because it requires very stable growth and fine control of the supply rate: highly saturated solutions and slow growth for long enough for the form to be defined.
About the locality
Although the concession is recorded as Mina Jaimina, locals call it "La Coria". Its hallmark is the diversity of habits produced here, something not seen with this intensity at other Asturian deposits. The mine closed in 2015 and the site is now sealed and reclaimed: it is an exhausted deposit.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0134
- Composition
- CaF₂
- Name
- Fluorita
- Variety
- Tetraquishexaédrica
- Group
- Haluros
- Category
- Lucimera
- Mine
- Mina Jaimina
- District / Municipality
- Carrales
- Province
- Caravia
- Region
- Asturias
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 6 x 6 x 3.5
- Weight
- 182 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Eduardo Ruiz Contreras (Geoterraminerales)
- Etymology
- From the Latin "fluere" (to flow), for its historical use as a flux in metallurgy.
- Quality
- Notable
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España