The Rogerley mine is located in an abandoned 19th century limestone quarry near the village of Frosterley in the historic Weardale mining district, northern England. First discovered in the early 1970’s by partners Lindsay Greenbank and Mick Sutcliffe, the Rogerley is, to date, the only mine in the UK to be operated on a commercial basis solely for mineral specimens. The mine was worked on a weekend basis by the partners through the early 1990’s, producing a limited, but fairly steady stream of high quality green fluorite specimens.

Upon retiring from mining in 1996, the partners generously offered to assist in transferring operation of the mine to a group of interested Americans. Operating as UK Mining Ventures, the new partnership began full time mining in May, 1999. After rehabilitating the mine, tunneling began, and on June 12 a major fluorite-lined cavity was encountered. Excavation of what became known as the Black Sheep pocket lasted through the summer, and hundreds of high quality specimens were collected. The use of a hydraulic-powered diamond chain-saw allowed the collection of numerous large matrix specimens, which would have otherwise been impossible to extract from the tough silicified limestone host rock without serious damage. A second series of cavities containing large, opaque purple fluorite crystals coated with a quartz druze was also found. This became known as the Weasel pocket after a former inhabitant of the mine.

The Rogerley Mine has been reopened each summer since, and has yielded a fairly steady supply of fluorite for our efforts. Much of the mining between 2001 - 2008 centered on the West Crosscut, an area of fairly extensive flats directly to the west of the Black Sheep Pocket. While collecting in this area, we also continued to drive exploratory tunnel northward along the main vein in search of a new section of flats. In July 2007 we discovered what became known as the Jewel Box/Blue Bell pocket zone, which was collected from late 2007 until June 2009. Though quite small compared to the flats of the West Crosscut, this zone yielded some of the best specimens yet found in the mine. Continuing to tunnel northward, in July 2011 we encountered our third area of flats, know known as Penny's Pocket. This zone produced produced some good material, and hopes are that this flats will continue to produce upon our return next summer.

The Weardale district has long been famous for its specimens of magnificent fluorite. Specimens from famous mines such as the Heights, Boltsburn, Blackdene, Cambokeels, and Frazer’s Hush now grace many collections world-wide. In the summer of 1999 the Groverake Mine, which was last operating fluorspar mine in Weardale (and possibly the entire UK) closed, ending, with the exception of our small operation, a centuries long tradition of mining in the area.