Witherite (fine old classic)

Item Description

An excellent old classic Witherite specimen from Cumbria (Cumberland) featuring a full coverage of translucent, well-formed, silvery/white colored, stepped-growth crystals in the typical tapered pseudo-hexagonal conical form can be seen all over the display side of the specimen. The largest crystal measures 1.8 cm long. This piece could be from the Brownley Hill Mine (the type locality for the species), but I can't say for certain. I can't find any major damage on the display side, outside of the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. It's important to note the quality of the crystals, as they are lustrous and pass light, not the chalky white opaque examples seen from Alston Moor. A really good quality example of these historic and important old-time specimens. Valued $1,500. Mine records at this historic mine date from 1735 to abandonment in 1936, but evidence of mining around Alston Moor dates back to 1130.
From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974