Detailed information
Species
Baryte, Witherite
Dimensions
198 x 255 x 60
mm
Weight
5500 g
Locality
Settlingstones Mine Tyne Valley Northumberland, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
This is a superb, very large plate of the classic chisel-shaped pale cream coloured Baryte crystals which occurred in Settlingstones mine in Northumberland. With a core of compact fibrous darker cream coloured Witherite the Baryte forms a thick and extensive overgrowth, but in this instance the Baryte crystals form clustered fan-like aggregates of parallel groupings of very glossy bladed crystals, rather than the more typical individual thicker, less glossy, bladed crystals. There is some damage to the tips of a few of the Baryte crystals but this is still a spectacular specimen of which very few reach this scale. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection. Recorded as collected in 1964 when the mine was still operational.