Baryte with Marcasite

This finely-crystallised plate of creamy-white Baryte is built from interwoven cockscomb blades which are heavily encrusted with micro-crystals of metallic silver Marcasite.  This lovely specimen is from Ladywash mine, situated a little north of the Derbyshire village of Eyam.  Such specimens are not at all common and probably emanated from a localised section within this extensive underground mine.  The cockscomb blades are gently curved and on average measure around 2.5 to 4.5 cm wide.  A great Ladywash Baryte with Marcasite, the like of which occurs in no other mine within the British Isles.