Galena, Sphalerite and Quartz (Whitmore Coll.)

Item Description

The old paper label on the back of this combination plate says Cumberland, England and sphalerite as zinc blende. The front is littered with numerous, lustrous, metallic-gray, galena cuboctahedrons to 2.3 cm (large compound crystal) and a rich sprinkling of tiny sphalerite crystals. The back of this two-sided rib is another story. The nubby surface of sparkly, drusy quartz appears to be casted after some long dissolved away crystals and hosts just a few isolated galena and sphalerite crystals. The large galena is 1.8 cm. Classic old time material probably from the Alston Moor District. Ex Robert Whitmore Collection.