Baryte with Galena

Unknown Owner

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Here is something that we don't come across very often, a crystallized Baryte from Minsterley in Shropshire. Despite having a little damage to a few of the edges of the bladed white crystals which are alligned to form the main fan-like cockscomb aggregate (measuring 8.5 x 6.2 cm), this still looks like a mighty specimen, and a great rarity from Shropshire. Minsterley is the village at the northern end of a line of mines in what is known of as the South Shropshire Orefield, of which Snailbeach is probably the most famous. Crystallized specimens of pinkish-violet tinted rhombic Calcite with fine Quartz overgrowth are perhaps what Snailbeach mine is best known of in terms of mineral specimens, but even these are rarely seen for sale. This cracker is undoubtedly old, but beyond its previous owner nothing more is known of its history. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection, no. 350.