Detailed information
Species
Smithsonite
Dimensions
47 x 63 x 18
mm
Weight
60 g
Locality
Farnberry Mine, South Tynedale Alston Moor District Cumbria, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
This rather unusual Farnberry mine Smithsonite displays the typical, and uninspiring rusty 'dry bone' form, but unusually it is overgrown by a layer of the much more desirable botryoidal Smithsonite. This combination, or paragenetic sequence, is so rarely preserved in Farnberry specimens. Interestingly, the initial deposition of botryoidal Smithsonite is grey-white, with the classic yellow colour only commencing in the very outer 'skin'. Under magnification this colour shift is really striking. Originally in the W [Bill]. F. Davidson Collection (1907-2002), who most likely collected it, he sold his collection to Minerals Unlimited (Scott Williams, 1924-1997) during the 1960s or 1970s, ex Harry Caral and ex R. Hauck (in 1983).