Witherite - classic USA
stock #AC-309
Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
8 x 5.6 x 5.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $460
Spring 23
Choice, old (1960 vintage) cluster of two main Witherite crystals with minor Calcite and Fluorite on the back. The larger crystal is about 6 CM across, quite large for the specie. The front, or display side, is in good condition, the back right rear edge is cleaved but still displays well. The top crystal is more complete and even though smaller is the focal point. The larger lower crystal is less complete due to cleaves but makes a nice base for the upper. This is vividly fluorescent in all wavelengths, and the crystal terminations show the classic rounded step-type structures. The prism faces have the small stair-step structures that are classic for the specie. Witherite was fairly common in the early years of mining in the Fluorspar region, but really good specimens were rare, and since they were not colorful very few were saved. These now rank as some of the very best ever found on earth. I am told there is no longer any locality in the world where any is being found, and certainly not large fine crystals like these. A very good modern classic.
Witherite
stock #21.1-323
Minerva Mine #1, Rosiclare Level, Cave in Rock
Illinois,
United States
3.2 x 2.9 x 1.8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $300
Late Summer 2021
Textbook perfect form and top quality Witherite crystal on matrix from the Minerva Mine. It is not often we see a super Witherite in thumbnail size, this is in perfect condition, no damage and looks fine from any angle. The form of this piece looks much like a classic English Witherite but it is from Illinois where this is a quite rare habit. There were just two important localities for fine Witherites worldwide, Cumbria in the UK and the Minerva Mine in the USA. Both locales are now classics and neither produces anything today. This piece is also intensely fluorescent.
Witherite on Fluorite
stock #20.1-083
Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
2.8 x 2.6 x 1.8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $140
Spring 2020
A complete ivory colored Witherite crystal sitting on a blue crystalline Fluorite showing classic form. From the famed Minerva #1 Mine, this is a well formed thumbnail specimen in very good condition. The faces of the Witherite have the characteristic tiny stepped structures that are so definitive for this locality.
