Galena on Fluorite

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Blackdene mine near the head of Weardale in County Durham has probably produced the finest Galena specimens anywhere in England, not just in terms of the quality of the crystals - which are usually complex cubo-octahedral forms - but because of the gorgeous combination of colours with the associated purple Fluorite. This lovely large display specimen is a superb example of this combination, with many large cubo-octahedral Galena crystals, some intergrown to become huge crystals over 4 cm across. Most are 2 cm or more across, and are well formed, sat on a bed of pale purple Fluorite crystals typically 3 to 4 mm on edge with the occasional extremely gemmy intense purple twinned Fluorite crystal and scattered small Chalcopyrite crystals. The bed of purple Fluorite crystals that forms the base of the specimen is white internally, underneath. Ex George Farr collection.