Purple Fluorite from the Johannesschacht, Wölsendorf, Germany

Large fluorite specimen with numerous purple cubic crystals on a light matrix from the historic Johannesschacht in the Wölsendorf fluorite district, Bavaria. A characteristic specimen from a classic German locality.

Purple Fluorite from the Johannesschacht in Wölsendorf

This large mineral specimen comes from the Johannesschacht near Wölsendorf in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, Germany. The specimen displays numerous purple fluorite crystals, predominantly in cubic form, on a light, partly crystalline matrix.

The fluorite covers large areas of the specimen and shows a range of purple tones, from pale violet to darker, slightly brownish-purple areas. The three-dimensional arrangement of the crystals and the light-colored matrix create a varied appearance that is characteristic of specimens from the Wölsendorf district.

Cubic Fluorite Crystals on a Light Matrix

The individual fluorite cubes mostly measure from a few millimeters up to approximately 1 cm. Many of the crystal faces show good luster and clearly display the typical cubic crystal form. Some crystals are slightly translucent.

The specimen is covered with fluorite on several sides and therefore offers a number of attractive viewing angles. Some crystals show natural irregularities, minor dissolution features, or small edge contacts, as is common on historic mining specimens of this size.

With dimensions of 10 × 7.5 × 6 cm and a weight of 399 g, the specimen has a strong presence in a display cabinet and falls within the cabinet-specimen size range.

The Johannesschacht in the Wölsendorf Fluorite District

The Johannesschacht belongs to the historic Wölsendorf fluorite district in the Upper Palatinate. The district is known for its fluorite veins and for the wide variety of fluorite colors and crystal forms found there. The Johannesschacht also had one of the processing plants of the district, to which material from other mines was transported.

In the Wölsendorf district, fluorite occurred together with other vein minerals. Fluorite-barite veins are documented in the area of the Johannesschacht and the neighboring Pfeiffer Mine.

Fluorite specimens from the Wölsendorf district are especially appreciated by collectors of classic German mining localities and historic European fluorite specimens.