Pyromorphite and Romanechite on Baryte - image 1

Pyromorphite and Romanechite on Baryte

Unknown Owner

Roughton Gill in the Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England is rightly famous for its wonderful Pyromorphite specimens which first appeared when the mines were operating during the mid-19th century. Pyromorphite occurs particularly in the Roughton Gill South Lode and specimens have previously been recovered from several points along the outcrop of the lode. One such outcrop, on Iron Crag, has a very distinctive assemblage, with green tapering seed-like Pyromorphite crystals associated with black manganese oxides (Romanèchite) and bladed white Baryte. This small cabinet-sized specimen from Malcolm Southwood's collection (no. MS 2011.248) shows this association very well and although the Pyromorphite is sparse, it shows in quite large crystals (to 1.2 cm in length) with an excellent resinous lustre. Prior to this it was owned by Pearl Freeman (no. B138) and was clearly collected well before the collecting ban was introduced in the Caldbeck Fells in c. 2000.