It has been a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest for many years and by agreement with English Nature all the Blue John Stone deposits on the visitor route are preserved.

Blue john Stone, however, is regularly mined in Treak Cliff cavern from areas not seen by visitors. This is then crafted into fine jewellery, small bowls, ornaments and other decorative items. .

The mineral Blue John Stone is a unique banded form of Fluorspar. It is believed it was originally given its name from the French \”bleu et jaune\” the \”blue and yellow\” stone. It was mined in the eighteenth century with the Derbyshire folk coining the name of ‘Blue John Stone’.

As well as ‘Blue John’ Treak Cliff Cavern have some of the finest stalactites in the Peak District, which can be viewed in our \’Aladdin\’s Cave\’, \’Fairy Grotto\’ and \’Dreamcave\’ chambers.