Detailed information
Species
Fluorite, Galena
Dimensions
113 x 137 x 63
mm
Weight
948 g
Locality
Probably Height's Mine Westgate, Weardale Co. Durham, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
This fine large cabinet Fluorite is an old-timer which was labelled simply as "Weardale", but there is reason to believe that it is from Height's mine. It comes with a fragile old Bryce M. Wright dealer label mounted on card, and an old unidentified institution label. The Wright label relates to Bryce Wright Sr. at his address (90, Great Russell Street, London) in 1866-1874. Broadly triangular in shape, the display surface is totally coated in Fluorite as small (5 to 10 mm) glassy transparent colourless to pale green cubes with prominent frosted central zones, and larger (up to 15 mm on edge) mid-green, matt, interpenetrant twinned crystals. A few modified cubo-octahedral tarnished Galena crystals are scattered amongst the Fluorite too. The matrix is a dark coloured laminated siliceous rock. For its age it is in good condition, but several of the larger Fluorite crystals have damaged corners. Aesthetically, it is quite different to most older Weardale Fluorites, but does show pronounced daylight fluorescence. Ex Malcolm Southwood collection, no. MS2001/018.