Detailed information
Species
Alstonite, Baryte
Dimensions
60 x 82 x 34
mm
Weight
180 g
Locality
Alston Moor Eden, Cumbria England
Condition
No recorded repairs
Alstonite is a rare, low temperature hydrothermal mineral which has joint type localities, Brownley Hill mine in Cumbria and Fallowfield mine in Northumberland. This first class specimen is from one of the Alston Moor mines is accompanied with two very different labels from the University of Vienna . Covering a completely hidden matrix of pale salmon pink Baryte, this only visible from beneath, is an impressive thick layer of perfectly crystallised Alstonite crystals, forming sharp, dog-tooth like snow white crystals, some measuring to as much as 5 mm. Alstonite is a double carbonate of calcium and barium; i.e. BaCa(CO3)2. Under LWUV the fluorescence is mild and mellow, being a patchy ethereal pale pink with equally ethereal pale yellow patches. A remarkably fine example of the rare species Alstonite and without doubt of museum quality.