Detailed information
Species
Baryte, Hematite, Dolomite
Dimensions
33 x 67 x 31
mm
Weight
74 g
Locality
Frizington West Cumberland Iron Field Cumbria, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
The West Cumbrian Iron Mining District is world-renowned for its amazing Baryte crystals the best of which started to find their way out of the mines during the late 19th century. This fine miniature specimen features a classic tabular/bladed pale blue Baryte crystal, 5.8 cm in length. This crystal has an excellent slightly pearlescent lustre and grey-blue colour. Its main termination is good, with just the slightest of mouse-bites, but the crystal is incomplete on its lower edge where it is included with Hematite and its lower termination is missing. Nevertheless, it still looks like a fine Cumbrian Baryte crystal. Another similar bladed Baryte crystal, 3 cm in length, grows out from one side at a shallow angle and has minor reddish Hematite inclusions at one end. Minor cream coloured Dolomite and botryoidal Hematite form a small piece of matrix. It is recorded as from Frizington, a famous town near to many of the main mines. Ex Malcolm Southwood collection, no. MS 2011.244. Another collection number (F359) is attached to the specimen.