Witherite

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Settlingstones mine in Northumberland, England was the biggest producer of Witherite for barium salts in the UK, if not the world during the early 20th century. Interestingly, its Witherite occurs in a form quite different to from other British occurrences: that is, a well-crystallized cream coloured aggregates with a quite waxy lustre. This excellent small cabinet specimen from Malcolm Southwood's Collection (no. MS 2005.018) features somewhat somewhat glossy pyramidal crystals, quite unlike the white pyramidal forms seen at the nearby Fallowfield mine. There are, one, or possibly two slight bruises to the crystals, but overall this is a very good example of Witherite from this famous mine, where most specimens we see are unfortunately really bashed up.