Millerite with Quartz

Excellent, acicular needle-like Millerite crystals to 1.5 cm nestle in and span a 2.5 x 2 cm shallow vug lined with iron stained creamy Siderite crystals.  This fine small cabinet specimen is from the Coed-Ely Colliery at Coed Ely in Rhondda-Cynon-Taff, Wales.  The matrix is a brecciated ironstone containing brick red to dark grey ironstone clasts cemented by a pervading mixture of Siderite and Quartz.  Colourless to milky Quartz fragments surround the vug.  The Millerite forms as relatively thick rods and as fine hairs of dull golden bronze with a matt to satin metallic lustre.  As always with Millerite, any purchaser must take great care when handling the specimen, so as not to damage any crystals.  It is best held between thumb and forefinger gripping its long axis while removing it from its display box.