Galena with Baryte

Although perhaps not so widely known, Masson Hill quarry was a favourite amongst local collectors of Derbyshire minerals, and it was indeed one of my regular former haunts. The quarry sits high above the town of Matlock and occasionally yielded interesting specimens, all very much with a “Masson Hill” feel! Although naturally corroded, this is an excellent example of large octahedral Galena crystals measuring to 3.5 cm long and piled-up in a long array on and in a granular mass of orange, iron-stained matrix. Associated with the Galena are several weathered hemispheres of rusty-cream Baryte to 2 cm diameter. An excellent location piece and a super addition to any Derbyshire collection.