Witherite (classic material) (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

Witherite is a well-known barium carbonate, that is only found in a few world localities in fine quality crystals. The species was discovered over 200 years ago, and the type locality at Brownley Hill Mine, England along with other mines in Cumbria have produced some of the most distinctive and classic specimens around. Along with the English pieces, the specimens from the Minerva #1 Mine in Illinois are among the best ever found. This particular specimen features good sized, sharp, well-formed, lustrous, pseudo-hexagonal (orthorhombic), light yellow color, translucent crystals of Witherite measuring up to 3.8 cm with minor associated gemmy purple Fluorite, free of matrix. The piece is nearly complete all the way around, save the back where it detached from the pocket. The size, quality and relative obscurity on the market today make this a worthwhile specimen from one of the most famous mining districts in the United States. We had a value of $1,500 on this one. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011. The piece comes with a label from R. D. Bates, and his collection number W-33 is attached to the back of the specimen.