Large Pyromorphite on Quartz (OLD classic)

Item Description

Classic, OLD-TIME, very rich pyromorphite on quartz from the historic mines at Caldbeck Fells. Lustrous, translucent, textbook hexagonal, classic oil-green prisms, to 8 mm, are festooned on both sides of the large quartz plate rib. Strikingly, the pyros have three types of terminations - flat, hoppered and rare club-shaped! The piece is probably from the famous Roughton Gill Mine or the Driggith Mine. Exceptional, rich and uncommon old material dating to the 1800s, as lead mining effectively ceased around Caldbeck Fells in 1876. The century-plus old label on the piece is incorrect. Pyromorphite is phosphate of lead, NOT a diarseniate of lead. Undervalued by the former dealer at $1400. The size, richness and age value this at $1500-2000.