Mimetite var. Campylite

I openly admit to having a soft spot for Dry Gill Campylite, the barrel-shaped variety of Mimetite, as in almost every case specimens can look so very different.  It is a dangerous game because the keen collector forever has temptation put in their way with such material!  To say a specimen is so different to those already encountered may read like a cliché, but how many near-complete geodes have you come across, lined with lustrous toffee caramel brown Campylite crystals?  In my case none, prior to this little beauty.  It is a lenticular-shaped geode with a sooty blank manganese oxide outer coating, but, thankfully, not one which rubs off onto your fingers.  The cavity measures approximately 5.5 cm long; 3 cm wide at its wides point and just over 3 cm deep.  It’s gorgeous!