Wulfenite on Calcite (rare late 1800s locality)

Item Description

The Hilltop Mine is one of the legendary old sources (since the late 1880's) for Wulfenite in the American Southwest, now long forgotten by most people. This cabinet-sized specimen has sharp, yellow crystals to 6 mm, on matrix. Most specimens were recovered in the 1890s until about 1910, I am told, and the mine has not been worked since the 1950's. Not suprisingly, good specimens such as this piece are difficult to find on today's mineral market. This is not the best Hilltop piece for wulfenite, but it IS unusually pretty, as the small, flat crystals (to 6mm) are displayed on calcite for a yellow on white contrast, and this is very rare for this location. There is some damage but most are intact. From the extensive collection of Bob Reynolds, who cherished both minerals and fossils as he collected. Bob is a prolific author and has had several curating positions in museums. He had an amazingly diverse wulfenite suite!