Sphalerite

Many people who live outside the UK may not be familiar with just where the Isle of Man is. Covering an area of 572 sq. km (221 sq. miles), this beautiful island lies in the Irish Sea, about midway between the English Lake District and Norther Ireland. Many metal mines are to be found but by far, its most famous is the great Laxey mine north of the village of Laxey on the east coast. This mine is internationally famous for its iconic waterwheel, named Lady Isabella (also The Great Laxey Wheel), still operational and measuring 22.1 m (72 feet) in diameter. Mineral specimens are quite rarely encountered in collections of British minerals, and are usually readily identifiable due to the high quality of the limited suite of species it produced. This small cabinet specimen is totally charming, forming four complex dodecahedrons of diminishing size, ordered from 3.5 cm diameter down to 1 cm on a think yet strong plate covered in stubby Quartz crystals. The Sphalerite crystals are black with complex surface patterns and features and all have a beautiful silky, metallic lustre. A fabulous sphalerite from Great Laxey mine on the Isle of Man and accompanied by two very old German labels.