Scheelite on Ferberite - unusual locale
stock #20.1-596-(JM923)
Bandy Gill near Carrock Mine, CaldbeckFellsMungrisdale, Eden
Cumberland, Cumbria,
England
3.7 x 3 x 1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $120
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
Small Scheelite crystals on Ferberite crystal blades with a Quartz core. Ex John Marshall collection, he personally collected this piece is 1970. This was found near Bandy Gill not very far from a known Scheelite locale at Carrock. A nice example of Scheelite from the Cumberland (now Cumbria) region. We do not usually find any English Scheelite on the market. This has 4 small sharp crystals which are vividly fluorescent and well-formed. Includes the previous label and catalog card from the Marshall collection.
Pyromorphite-Mimetite with unusual form
stock #18.1-021
Roughtongill Mine, Caldbeck Fells
Cumbria,
England
6.6 x 5.4 x 2.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $700
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
From the famed Roughton Gill Mine, this has a very unusual form, spherical forms of yellow-green Pyromorphite that have a thin layer of tiny acicular crystals on the surface giving a rough texture and a slight sparkle in strong light. The balls reach 1.2 CM which is exceptionally large for this more rare form. A few of these Pyros from this locale are partly to fully Mimetite, they can be zoned and can not be easily determined without testing. This was collected from a seam in 1974 by Les Hitchings. Most were more typical in form and testing of a few samples only found traces of Mimetite. This specimen was not tested, it seems to be mostly, if not all, Pyro. In fine condition and a very unusual habit this style is almost never seen on the market. Only three pieces in the seam had this form, very different type from this classic locale.
Chalcocite - Cornish classic
stock #13.1-258
Levant Mine, Trewellard, St Just,
Cornwall,
England
4.7 x 3.1 x 2.7 CM (miniature)
price: $570
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
Chalcocite twin crystals on a matrix that includes some Copper. The Chalcocite are twinned on the (010) and (020) and these are pseudo orthorhombic. From the Levant Mine which was one of the more prolific sources of Chalcocite, this has the characteristic dark and rather dull patina that is noted on many of the very old specimens. A classic that is probably well over 100 years old, the mine began in 1793. The earlier mining was concentrated on Copper minerals like this but later was more focused on Tin extraction.
Calcite on Goethite stalactites
stock #25.1-315
Noxon Park Mine, Forest of Dean
Gloucestershire ,
England
9.8 x 6.8 x 5.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
A strange British locality not well-known internationally is the old mines located in the Forest of Sean in Gloucestershire. This specimen was collected in 1977 by Les Hitchings and shows very well the 3-dimensional structure of these Goethite fingers that are covered with sparkling Calcite crystals. The Calcites range from colorless to red and nearly black due to the color of the matrix below. In fine condition and nice on all sides and angles. An attractive British material we do not see often in the market, this example is the most esthetic I have seen.
Cuprite - classic Cornish, well-crystallized
stock #8.AE-703
Wheal Gorland, St Day, United Mines, Gwennap. Camborne, Redruth-St. Day
Cornwall,
England
5.7 x 4.4 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $770
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
A solid, rich mass of octahedral crystals, essentially all Cuprite, in an esthetic cluster. Ex British Museum (no old label was retained but the piece has been published) this is certainly a very old specimen. This was one of the most famous classic specimen localities in all of Cornwall, with the primary mining finished in 1851. Some later mining did occur but the produced little. There are hundreds of small Cuprite crystals on this piece, dark red in color and with a good sparkling luster. Larger crystals from here exist but in our experience they are a more dull dark brown red. A choice old English Copper, far better than typical from this famed mine.
Calcite - classic English
stock #13.1-185
Pallaflat Mine, Bigrigg, West Cumberland Iron Field
Cumbria,
England
4.2 x 4 x 2.7 CM (miniature)
price: $700
Spring to Summer; New and Vintage
Fine transparent Calcite crystals from long ago in good condition. The Pallaflat Mine in the old Cumbrian Iron Mining area was famed for these Calcites. The mine worked from 1874 to 1914, although a few good specimens were found later on the dumps, the best of these Calcites came from deep underground and are over a century old. Not quite perfect, one crystal has a tiny tip contact but the rest are perfect. Remarkably fine for such an old and delicate mineral specimen. This displays well from several angles.
From the historic Iron mining region of Egremont in the Cumberland region this is a choice combination specimen. The Hematite matrix has two main generations showing, the older, inner, is a botryoidal red Hematite while the newer is a sparkling crystalized black layer. Perched on the Hematites are several smoky Quartz crystals the largest just under 3 CM. A sprinkling of saddle-shaped Dolomite crystals adds a nice contrast. The is sharp, very lustrous and undamaged, the largest crystal has contacts on one side but no chipping or nicks. Old and classic, this from the last Iron Mine to work in England.
A lot of species on this small specimen! The matrix here has a few small Cuprite crystals on the edges but the main open vug is packed with crystals of colorful Copper secondary minerals. The Chalcophyllite is most prominent with well-defined crystals in classic habit. It is quite rich for this locality. This is a very old mine, closed in 1840. An attractive piece though small, the Cornubite and Cornwallite are visually rather similar both in botryoidal zones and some very tiny druses, we are copying earlier labels and using previous owners checking to include both species on our listing, but we have not done further testing. There may be other species present as well, it is a densely populated specimen! I am unsure about the Liskardite, it is supposed to be there but the only spots I can find with magnification that may be this specie are very hard to see well. If present it is a very small amount and only listed for completeness. An uncommon Cornish multi-specie piece that is quite colorful.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
