Witherite on ALSTONITE - image 1
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Witherite on ALSTONITE

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Pyramidal Witherite crystals, or more correctly pyramidal cyclically twinned Witherite crystals, are a thing of rare beauty and are amongst the most sought after of northern English classic minerals. Infact, they have been valuable ever since this unusual crystal form was discovered during the 1820s at Fallowfield mine. This small cabinet-sized display specimen is a phenomenon, featuring not only large pyramidal and bipyramidal twinned crystals, but lots of them too, arranged aesthetically upon an Alstonite-coated sandstone matrix. The largest bipyramidal Witherite crystals are 3.7 cm and 3.7 cm long respectively and are in really great shape. One or two of the crystals have very slight chips to their terminations, but the sharpness of detail seen within the stepped pyramidal sides of these crystals is quite exceptional. The Alstonite forms extensive thin layers of tiny bipyramidal microcrystals - Fallowfield being the Co-Type Locality for Alstonite, as it was discovered there at the same time as at Brownley Hill mine, in 1834. This specimen comes with a custom made Sunnywood acrylic display stand. A Witherite of the very highest order of quality.

Product details

SpeciesWitherite
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions7.0 x 6.2 x 3.8 cm
Added on12/07/2025

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
07/2026Unknown Owner$17,500.00
Crystal ClassicsNot disclosed

Learn more

Mineral guide
Learn about Witherite
distinctive pseudo-hexagonal twin crystals, white-cream color, UV fluorescence, scarce, prized specimens from Settlingstones, Alston Moor.
Witherite
Regional guide
Witherite from Fallowfield Mine, Hexham, England
Fallowfield Mine, Hexham, England, a locality for witherite, known for doubly terminated, cyclic-twinned crystals on pale drusy matrix, often with alstonite.