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Fluorita Transparente

Fluorita is a mineral with formula CaF₂, in the Haluros group. This specimen comes from Mina Emilio (filón Obdulia), Colunga, Caravia, Asturias, España and joined the Terrium collection in 28/5/2023.

Fluorita Transparente from Mina Emilio (filón Obdulia), Colunga, Caravia, Asturias, España — Terrium

Description

Thumbnail of pure, ice-clear fluorite. Straight edges and well-defined flat faces. Two main cubes structure the piece, with small stepped growths on one side and the base. Clean surface with slight microtexture on some faces. Interior very clear, with few visible inclusions. Free-standing growth, without matrix and with no dominant attachment point.

History of this specimen

The piece is mineralogically worthy in its own right but has a particular meaning for me. Here in Colunga on 28 May 2023, I completed the 5,000 km on foot I had set myself as a challenge, walking the entirety of the Iberian coast. Therefore, this small and very beautiful piece is the mineralogical symbol of that feat.

About Fluorita

Fluorite is one of the hallmark species in Asturian collecting, forming well-defined cubic crystals in cavities. At Mina Emilio, highly transparent, often colourless specimens are typical, where the visual effect depends on internal clarity and the sharpness of the edges.

About the locality

One of the classic mines of eastern Asturias, known for very transparent fluorites—indeed the usual material is absolutely colourless—with a well-defined cubic habit; at times the crystals are very complex, adding other geometries: hexaquisoctahedron, rhombic dodecahedron, triaquishexahedron or trapezohedron. It has produced small to medium-sized specimens with high optical clarity and lustre.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
5000
Composition
CaF₂
Name
Fluorita
Variety
Transparente
Group
Haluros
Category
Meritum Persé
Mine
Mina Emilio (filón Obdulia)
District / Municipality
Colunga
Province
Caravia
Region
Asturias
Country
España
Size (cm)
2.4 x 1.3 x 1.2
Weight
11.3 g
Acquired
28/5/2023
Etymology
From the Latin "fluere" (to flow), referring to its use as a flux.
Quality
Top
Value trend
Al alza

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