Witherite (excellent crystal) (ex Henry de Linde Collection)

Item Description

Some of the finest crystallized examples of Witherite are those from Southern Illinois. The large, robust crystals with their beautiful stepped faces and soft golden hues make them instantly recognizable among mineral collectors. While Witherite is a simple carbonate species, it's notably difficult to find in any capacity, especially in crystals of this size and quality. This small cabinet sized specimen features a beautiful, layered, soft golden colored, pseudohexagonal crystal of Witherite measuring a full 4.0 cm across with a few accessory Witherites and minor purple Fluorite from the Rosiclare Mining District in Illinois. There a few small bruises that can be seen, but overall, the display side of the specimen is in fine shape, but it's not complete on the back where it was removed from the pocket wall. It's quite rare to find a specimen with a 4.0 cm Witherite like this, and I love the fact that it's so perfectly set at the top most portion of the specimen. A great example of this now incredibly hard to find high quality material. From the collection of Henry de Linde (March 21, 1923 – April 4, 2019) of Hot Spring, Arkansas. Henry was one of the most prominent figures in the history of Arkansas mining and mineral collecting. Along with being a miner, mineral collector and an amateur mineralogist, de Linde was one of the founders of the Coon Creek Association mineral club. He was the owner of several key localities in Arkansas including the Diamond Jo Quarry (on the south rim of Magnet Cove), the type locality for Delindeite, which was named in his honor in 1987.