Pyromorphite (classic material)

Item Description

Here we have an excellent old-time Pyromorphite from the famed Wheatley Mines in Pennsylvania. The old Wheatley Mine (Wheatley Lode) was one of the great secondary ore deposits in the world in its day, and I've heard people have referred to it as "Tsumeb, before Tsumeb", as many of the same kinds of minerals were found (though Tsumeb proved to be much more prolific and diverse). It should be noted that mining began in the 1850s at Wheatley, which predated any kind of mining at Tsumeb. With that said, these superb antiques are beloved by East Coast collectors for their significance to not only early mineralogy, but the prominence of mining on the East Coast of the United States in the 19th & 20th centuries. The most famous specimens from this locality are the excellent green Pyromorphites, and this piece is a great example featuring rich olive-green colored, vitreous hexagonal crystals measuring up to 5 mm which are covering virtually all sides of the underlying matrix. A bit of exposed associated Quartz makes for a nice touch. The crystals are in good condition, but you can see some contacted areas here and there. Overall it's a showy and good quality example of these wonderful old classics from this prestigious locality.
From the collection of longtime mineral collector Dr. Bob Lauf (Collection #2195), the author of the Mineral Collectors Guide books (Schiffer Publishing), widely seen at mineral shows and libraries. Robert Lauf grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, ultimately receiving a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering. His scientific career included over twenty years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he conducted research on topics ranging from nuclear fuel, coal by-products, materials synthesis, microwave processing, sensors, optical materials, and biomineralization. He has been granted over forty U.S. Patents for his inventions, many of which have become successful industrial products. He is now a Registered Patent Agent and technology consultant.