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Settlingstones mine at Fourstones, Northumberland was one of Britain's biggest producers of barium carbonate - Witherite. Often specimens of Witherite are seen for sale from the mine, but less common, are the huge plates of coarse bladed Baryte crystals that overgrow the Witherite. This very large specimen (27 cm in length) is a very good example of this association. It consists of a pale toffee coloured core of massive, to fibrous Witherite, upon which is draped a 2.5 cm thick layer of coarsely crystallized white Baryte. The Baryte forms thick, bladed, to wedge-shaped crystals to 1.5 cm in length. The majority of the Baryte crystals are pristine, with just a couple showing the slightest of wear to the terminations. This specimen was formerly in the Michael Harris collection, renowned for its quality, and will make a fine 'statement' specimen in any North of England collection.
272 x 165 x 54 mm