Detailed information
Species
Calcite, Hematite
Dimensions
111 x 132 x 63
mm
Locality
Pallaflat Mine, Bigrigg West Cumberland Iron Field Cumbria, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
Pallaflat mine by the village of Bigrigg in west Cumbria has always been a source of the finest Calcite specimens; specimens which define these Cumbrian classics!. No matter if you have a specialist collection of such specimens or are seeking your first addition from this famous mining region, there has to be a place for this breath-taking hand sized specimen. Nucleated over a core of botryoidal Hematite, only visible in the base, large, translucent milky grey to colourless Calcite scalenohedral crystals have formed a hedgehog-like dome , quite triangular in plan. All crystals have smooth faces and despite their slightly waxy close-too lustre, from more of a distance they are quite reflective and glassy. The Calcite crystals are typically 2 to 3 cm long, with one beauty making about 4.5 cm! The vast majority are perfectly terminated with only a few having slightly cleaved tips, although this is not at all apparent. Taking the aesthetic up a level or three, about one third of the crystals are preferentially coating in a surface film of pinkish, light brick red finely disseminated Hematite. A superb and stunning calcite from Pallaflat mine.