Fluorite from the Rogerley Mine, Weardale, Northern England
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: Apr 23rd, 2026
Locality: Rogerley Mine, Rogerley Quarry, Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK (See on Mindat)
Size: 7.5 x 5.1 x 7.8 cm
Weight: 301 g
Description:
Green cubes of fluorite on a light brown matrix, from the Rogerley Mine, Weardale, County Durham, England. Discovered in the early 1970's, the Rogerley Mine is the source of some of the most beautiful and brightly fluorescent fluorite in the world. This is the only mine in the UK that is currently worked on a commercial basis strictly for the production of mineral specimens.
Rogerley fluorite cubes have a lovely green color. As is typical of most Rogerley specimens that feature larger-sized fluorite crystals, the cubes contain what are termed "white" or "frosted" centers. These are thought to be growth features caused by internal stress that builds as the crystals grow larger.
Under shortwave UV, this fluorite shows a beautiful blue, fluorescent response, but is at its best when viewed under longwave UV, where it fluoresces a bright, light blue. It is simply not possible to depict the brightness of the longwave response of this fluorite specimen in a photograph, as it appears much brighter in-person.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Fluorite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue