Detailed information
Species
Sphalerite, Quartz
Dimensions
61 x 80 x 35
mm
Locality
Alston Moor North Pennines Cumbria, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
Sphalerite is one of those minerals which is so easy to take for granted, but my word, when you see a really well crystallised specimen like this one from the Alston Moor Mines, it really does stand out and make you look twice! Covering a iron-stained matrix, beautifully developed, composite, jet-black Sphalerite crystals up to 2 cm on edge, form triangular sectioned prisms. Between these are in-fillings of stubby, opaque snow-white Quartz crystals. The pure black and white contrast between the two species helps create a very displayable specimen. Alston Moor is in the Northern Pennine Orefield, in east Cumbria, England.