La Mine de Fluorine de Valzergues, Aveyron

(The Valzergues Fluorite Mine, Aveyron, France) by Etienne Guillou-Gotkovsky. Published (1999) by the author, 46 Petite Rue Verte, F-78610 Le Perray-en-Yvelines, France. Hardcover, 21 x 29.7 cm, 228 pages, ISBN 2-9514462-0-9, Price: 290 Francs plus 80 Francs postage for "economy airmail." (In French)

The Valzergues fluorite mine is famous among European collectors for its fabulous specimens of bright yellow, gemmy fluorite in large cubic crystals and clusters. Although the mine was worked for 50 years, there has not until now been a thorough documentation of the occurrence. The author has scoured France for rare documents, old photos, research materials and the best specimens in order to create this excellent book, which was clearly a labor of love.

The book is divided into four main sections (1) Geography and Geology, (2) Veins and Mine Workings, (3) History and Production, and (4) Mineralization. Each section is abundantly illustrated in color; locality photos, geologic maps and cross-sections, mine plans, claim maps, underground photography, and especially color mineral photography all add interest to the text. The photos of crystal-lined cavities in place are rare to see. The work concludes with a three-page list of references.

Well published in large format on highquality paper, this book is a fine contribution to the literature of important localities. It will surely establish Valzergues as one of France's premier fluorite occurrences along with such other famous French occurrences as Fontsante, Beix and Chamonix.

Copyright Mineralogical Record Jul/Aug 2000
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