FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Andy Lawton]

A Caldbeck Fells arsenopyrite

[Andy Lawton]

A Lake District calcite I repatriated a few years ago

[Jesse Fisher]

Most are familiar with the Hilton Mine as a source of yellow and amber-colored fluorite. Not as well known is the Murton Mine, located adjacent to the Hilton at the hear of Scordale Beck, along the Western Escarpment of the North Pennines. The Murton was worked for barium ore (both baryte and witherite) during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but specimens in old collections are scarce. This is the only fluorite I have encountered from the mine. The presence of mimetite (fine-grained green stuff at the top of the specimen) is unusual for the North Pennines, though common to the west in the Caldbeck Fells area.

[Jesse Fisher]

A nice old calcite from the West Cumbrian (Cumberland) iron ore deposits, with a label from Ward's Natural Science, located in Rochester, New York. It is difficult to date old Ward's specimens by the label as the company remained at the same address for many years. It is possible, however, that the specimen came to them when they purchased George English's business and stock in 1905. English was a prominent East Coast mineral dealer at the time and was known to have made numerous buying trips to the British Isles and continental Europe in the late 19th century. This would have coincided with the height of mining activity in the area around Egremont and Frizington. Just how such a delicate-looking specimen survived being crated up and shipped back to the USA at that time is a wonder!

[Tobi]

A wonderful classic calcite, outstanding quality and nice reddish colour zoning. And I just love the Ward's labels, they're somehow between vintage and modern. Great specimen and great label!

[Forrestblyth]

A beautiful specimen with such a significantly warm red hue typical of this location

[Forrestblyth]

Baryte and zinc-based minerals often appear with the nicer campylite specimens.