French Blue Fluorite

Mineral(s): Fluorite
Locality: Le Burg (Burc) Mine, Alban - Le Fraysse Area, Tarn, Occitanie, France
Specimen size: 6.8 x 5.1 x 2.6 cm

This one definitely ranks up there in the top favorite specimens of fluorite that I own. Sharp, glassy cubes of fluorite are color zoned in various shades of blue and a light yellow. Blue fluorite from France is very coveted among fluorite collectors, and Le Burg Mine is one of the most famous localities. It's hard to come across specimens with relatively little damage, as most specimens were extracted from the mine without much consideration to the condition of the crystals. The mine was the last commercial fluorspar operation in France to close, lasting from 1954 to 2006.

Here's a close-up of one of the main fluorite crystals: bmah.deviantart.com/art/French…