The collection at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery contains this specimen of fluorite – discovered underneath your feet below the surface of Crich Hill.
Many shafts were dug into Crich Hill during the early 1800s in order to mine lead veins. Glory Mine shaft was dug at this time and eventually worked to 810ft before the vein ran out. It wasn’t usual for lead miners to discover mineral crystals, many of which were collected to sell to tourists.
Having so many independent mines in one place could cause problems. In 1831 a dispute over the ownership of a lead vein brought the miners of Glory Mine and Old End in conflict. The rival tunnels met underground, where Glory miners were recorded to have pushed stones down onto miners below them. It is also claimed that one side burnt old boots to smoke the other side out. Eventually an agreement was reached and a boundary line was fixed on the surface.