Detailed information
Species
Smithsonite
Dimensions
43 x 65 x 21
mm
Weight
128 g
Locality
Farnberry Mine, South Tynedale Alston Moor District Cumbria, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
Reknowned for the richest Smithsonite in England, the Farnberry mine, near Alston in Cumbria, was mined for Smithsonite as an ore or zinc during the late 19th century. Although it is found in a range of colours, the most sought-after from Farnberry mine was the yellow, which was nicknamed "Turkey Fat" as seen on the John S. Albanese (1898-1969) Fine Minerals label accompanying this lovely specimen. The specimen itself is claimed by Albanese's label to be from the Lord Calvert Collection (John 'Lord' Calvert, 1825-1897). An old number label attached to it is no. 772 and that might well be Calvert's. Ex Harry Caral Collection, and ex R. Hauck in 1983. It is a dense rib of botryoidal lemon curd yellow Smithsonite surrounding small areas of dull, orange brown, porous, 'dry-bone' Smithsonite. It has been polished down one side to enhance the wonderful yellow colour and to show the internal botryoidal form. A very fine larger miniature of this famous British Smithsonite from the mid- to late 19th century.
