Sphalerite and Calcite

A lustrous crystalline plate of Sphalerite with two contrasting white scalenohedral Calcite crystals to 1.9 cm. The Sphalerite displays complex, ridge-like developments of intergrown crystals, with a superb and aesthetic sub-metallic, silky lustre.  This cabinet specimen comes from one of Wanlockhead’s last working mines, New Glencrieff, then in the county of Dumfriesshire, Scotland.  This beautiful specimen comes with three previous labels: a white Richard Barstow Collection label; a Rayner of New Bond Street, London (priced 15/- [15 shillings]) and a Ben de Wit stock label.  Rayner’s mineral department appears to have run between the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and often sold surplus Sir Arthur Russell material, as supplied by the great man himself.