Mimetite (var: Campylite) (fine old classic) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

For many years, Camplyite was a valid species, but it is now defined as a phosphatian variety of Mimetite. Undoubtedly, the finest and most well-known examples of Campylite in the world are those from the world famous Dry Gill Mine in Cumbria, England. These specimens have been illustrated in books, graced the pages of magazines and found homes in collections around the world. The material has been known for nearly 200 years, as the earliest mentions of Mimetite at the Dry Gill Mine date back to 1830. Typically, the material has an orange or golden-brown hue, but this piece features a gradient range of colors from golden-brown to a bright greenish-yellow hue (similar to some specimens of Pyromorphite from the Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho). A full coverage of fine quality, somewhat "curved", semi-spherical crystal groups of "Campylite" can be seen on the display side of this fine small cabinet sized specimen with a superb adamantine / resinous luster sitting on host rock matrix, with a bit of attached Quartz on the back. The largest group measures 1.1 cm across. Overall the quality is excellent, with very little damage and wonderful presentation. One simply does not find specimens of this quality with the fine range of colors and such a superb coverage of crystals like this on the market these days. If you collect secondary ore minerals, lead minerals or old English classics, do NOT miss out on this excellent and eye-catching display piece of this historic, important and fine quality material. Priced in our inventory at $5,000. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#9898). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).