Linarite with Cerussite

One of the classic minerals associated with the Caldbeck Fells is Linarite from the Red Gill mine. This splendid specimen has a creamy, iron-stained Quartz matrix with pastel-green Malachite and an upper surface strewn with shallow vugs. These are lined with glassy, translucent bluish white Cerussite crystals, powder-green Malachite and occasional micro-botryoidal yellow-green Pyromorphite/Mimetite crystals. Across one area of this face is a band of azure-blue Linarite crystals forming blades to 4 mm across with a bright glassy lustre which stand out and display very well indeed. Red Gill mine lies close to the confluence of Red Gill and Swinburn Gill, a little to the north west of Roughton Gill head. The fine state of preservation of the Linarite crystals makes this a very good representative specimen from this classic occurrence.