Witherite - image 1
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Witherite

Unknown Owner
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This is a wonderful miniature north of England classic. The complex twinned Witherite crystals found at Fallowfield mine, near Hexam in Northumberland are one of the all-time British greats, forming beautiful, white, six-sided pyramids and bipyramids. This very unusual habit of crystal was first spotted there in the 1820s and despite being cyclic twinned crystals are the most recognizable form of Witherite to most collectors due to their iconic status. This very pretty miniature features two Witherite crystals perched on matrix, the longer a bipyramid at 3.6 cm in length and the smaller at 2.3 cm. The smaller of the two has a very slightly damaged termination, but the bipyramidal crystal is in really good condition for its age. The matrix is a coarse sandstone which is coated in a thin layer of acute bipyramidal Alstonite microcrystals. Fallowfield mine is, of course, the Co-Type Locality for Alstonite, having been found there in 1835. This is a really well-balanced miniature, of this absolute classic. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection, no. 371.

Product details

SpeciesWitherite
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions5.5 x 5.2 x 3.4 cm
Added on12/07/2025

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
07/2026Unknown Owner$1,500.00
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.