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Volyn fluorites - natural gems in the world of mineralogy.
17 Mar 2025
The mineralogical composition of the Volyn pegmatite deposit is extremely diverse. To date,...
The mineralogical composition of the Volyn pegmatite deposit is extremely diverse. To date, about 100 minerals have been identified in the pegmatites and the granites that contain them.
Based on their prevalence, these minerals are divided into two groups:
1. Primary minerals – minerals characterized by large formations that occur in all pegmatite bodies, making up more than 90% of their volume (e.g., quartz, feldspars, plagioclase, and micas).
2. Moderately widespread minerals – minerals that are generally typical for the Volyn pegmatite deposit and occur quite frequently but do not form large accumulations (topaz, beryl, opal, chalcedony, kaolinite, fluorite, siderite, hydromicas, chlorite, siderite).
Morphological Varieties of Fluorites in the Volyn Deposit
Based on morphological features, fluorites from the Volyn deposit are divided into three main varieties:
1. Green and violet-green crystals, predominantly of octahedral habitus.
2. Violet crystals, predominantly of cubic habitus.
3. Dark violet, almost black fine-grained aggregates.
Description of Varieties
• First variety – forms crystals in cavities ranging from 1-2 mm to 1.5 cm in size. The color is predominantly green, light green, or colorless, often with a violet rim. Occasionally found as inclusions in topaz.
• Second variety is most commonly found in the leaching zone. These are cubic-shaped crystals or their intergrowths, ranging from 0.5 to 2 cm in size. Often associated with siderite, micas, hydromicas, and albite. The color is greenish or colorless, with a violet hue at the crystal periphery. They often contain both mineral and gas-liquid inclusions.
• Third variety – fluorite in a fine-crystalline aggregate form, with crystal sizes of 1-2 mm. The color is black or violet-black. It occurs in cavities and fractures of various pegmatite zones. It can coat quartz, feldspar, and other aggregates, sometimes appearing as spherical or fine-crystalline clusters.
Distribution and Collectibility
In general, fluorites from the Volyn deposit are widely distributed and found in almost all pegmatite bodies (e.g., 306, 335, 313, 311, 317, 324, 394, 487, 521, 445, 511, and many others).
Fluorites are considered collectible specimens on par with topaz and beryl, which are also mined at the Volyn deposit.