Sphalerite with Quartz

Just the mention of Wanlockhead generates excitement amongst collectors of British minerals because good specimens from the Leadhills-Wanlockhead mining district in southern Scotland are rare items these days.  This is a magnificent museum grade (and size) specimen of drusy milky Quartz preferentially draped over superb coal-black Sphalerite crystals.  The New Glencrieff mine at Wanlockhead is now within the Dumfries & Galloway district but when operational, was in the historic county of Dumfriesshire.  Just for interest, although the nearby village of Leadhills lends its name to the same orebody, this lies across the county border in Lanarkshire.  The Sphalerite crystals are sensational, some measuring to over 6 cm with all faces displaying scale-like growth patterns with micro-stepped textures and a brilliant metallic lustre.  The deposition of the Quartz clearly indicates the ‘way-up’ of the specimen when in-situ, because from one direction only Quartz is visible and from the opposite, only Sphalerite.  This is a stunning Leadhills-Wanlockhead ore field specimen; a specimen any collector will be enormously delighted with and proud of.  Please note, because of this specimen’s size and weight, an additional post and packing charge is possible.