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Classic Minerals of Northern England
I am truly honored to begin offering online now, specimens from the collection of Lindsay and Patricia Greenbank of Kendall, England. Their collection of fine quality aesthetic specimens illustrates, in breadth and beauty both, the history of this important mining district. I felt that the collection was of such importance, and educational value, that I worked with the Greenbanks and with The Mineralogical Record for over a year and a half to bring a book to the public (given out for free to give back to the hobby, to all subscribers of the Record ). I hope that by preserving this legacy in print, it will inspire others to follow suit with important locality and historic collections. Approximately 150 specimens, over several updates, will now be offered for sale through this site. The Lindsay Greenbank Collection: Classic Minerals of Northern England by Wendell E. Wilson (editor), Published by Mineralogical Record, 148 pp, 2010 This special supplement to the January-February 2010 issue is devoted to the mines and minerals of northern England, an area that many American collectors are not especially familiar with. And yet, it is a region containing many famous localities: names that resonate with collectors but have carried a certain mystery. Illustrated in color with over 100 superb specimens from the uniquely comprehensive and well-documented collection of Lindsay and Patricia Greenbank, this book documents enough detailed background, history and mineralogical information to qualify as an important reference work for the serious collector. Maps, crystal drawings, old historic specimen labels, and 40 locality photos old and new give life and depth to the story. CLICK HERE FOR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, from MineralogicalRecord.com Please see this fun advertisement which sums up the romance of historic English classics so nicely (dated January, 1895): THE BEAUTIFUL, RARE, AND CHOICE MINERALS OF ENGLAND.
LGC-00 - Calcite Butterfly twins on matrix - SOLD Egremont, Cumberland, Cumbria, England cabinet, 11 x 10.5 x 9.7 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is perhaps the most famously known (and expensive) specimen in the collection, as it was shown at an exhibit on twinning in Munich of 1999, and is published in both the widely circulated German Lapis issue on Calcite ; and the English-version ExtraLapis issue on calcite (2003). It is a miracle survivor, in that it has lasted all this time since being mined in the mid 1800s, and remains in nearly pristine condition. This specimen hosts FIVE butterfly twinned calcite crystals on matrix. Interestingly one closed twin (i.e. the wings taper in, instead of out) has formed between 2 open twins, in the first three crystals in front...how this could happen, two different twin laws forming on crystals growing at the same time in the same place on the same matrix, I have no idea. Certainly it is unexpected. The specimen was formerly in the collection of wealthy sauerkraut manufacturer K. Rau of Germany, who specialized in highest quality cabinet pieces. A previous and clearly older German label notes that the specimens is "selten schone xx stufe" - a "rare and beautiful crystallized piece!". Upon his death, the piece went to Humboldt University of Berlin. It was exchanged out in 1986 and shortly ended up with Ralph Sutcliffe, whose collection passed to the Greenbanks in 1991. The previous owners feel that this specimen is the most historically important calcite in this collection, and one of the most important calcite survivors from the heyday of British mining, period. I am, simply, honored to offer it. As a young collector specializing in calcite since I was 12, this is really a dream come true to hold this famous specimen! Illustrated multiple times as noted above in other journals; and on page 117 of our own book on this collection, Minerals of Northern England. Joe Budd photo.
LGC-01 - Boracite - $ 2000 Boulby Potash Mine, Loftus, North Yorkshire, England small cabinet, 9.4 x 6.3 x 3.7 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Inside a hollow vug are individual crystals of glassy and gemmy, pastel green boracite, , to 4mm. This is a very rare magnesium borate. However, the crowning glory of this specimen is the unusual stalactite composed of super sharp and lustrous boracite crystals. This stalactite measures 2 cm in length and is highly unusual. Recovered in 1993 by the mine surveyor, this is a significant and aesthetic specimen.
LGC-02 - Pyromorphite - $ 950 Roughton Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumberland, Cumbria, England miniature, 5.3 x 4.2 x 3.4 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Most old Roughten Gill pyros are richly colored green in spindles and clubs. This is a near-surface specimen, found by Lindsay greenbank in the 1970's while digging with Richard Barstow in "Barstow's Trench" as they called it. It is , unusually, composed of short prismatic, lustrous, limey green crystals to 7 mm in length on matrix. A few are doubly terminated. Unusual color!
LGC-03 - Pyrrhotite - $ 1200 280 Level Slitt vein, Cambokeels Mine, Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines, Co. Durham, England miniature, 3.0 x 2.6 x 1.2 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is an outstanding miniature of a splendent, bronze colored pyrrhotite crystal, 2.3 cm in length and partially wreathed by a quartz crust. Found in 1989 at the Cambokeels Mine, Weardale by a miner: E. Golightly. The contrast of the metallic crystal and the the quartz crust is outstanding. This is a very rare, aesthetic, and unusually sharply isolated crystal for the finds here which came at the very end of the mine's working life. It is a dramatic piece from any locale, but particularly significant for an example of the species from England
LGC-04 - Calcite Heart twin - $ 4000 SOLD Egremont, Cumberland, Cumbria, England miniature, 4.5 x 4.6 x 2.5 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Very few smaller "heart twins" like this are available in the marketplace, compared to those that are small cabinet or larger in size - we think simply fewer little guys were saved by miners back in the day when they got more money for bigger twins. That makes it quite difficult to find a fine miniature or thumbnail example.This is a floater with most of the calcite faces exhibiting wonderfully visible growth striations; and glassy and gemmy mirror bright faces. It is shockingly colorless without the usual iron staining that often dulls lustre on these. Even the dendritic iron oxides inside a portion of the calcite, at the base, add beauty by emphasizing how clear the rest of the crystal really is. Ex. Sedgewick Museum, Cambridge University collection and ex. Ralph Sutcliffe collection and their old labels. An absolutely rare, pristine and superb miniature!
LGC-05 - Fluorite - $ 1500 Greenlaws Mine, Daddry Shield, Weardale, North Pennines, Co. Durham, England small cabinet, 7.7 x 5.7 x 5.3 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is a cluster of glassy to frosted, translucent to transparent, lavender colored crystals, to 5 cm on an edge. Peripheral contact exists and one edge has minor damage but the major display face and crystals there, are in excellent condition. What is truly remarkable about this fluorite is that, when backlit using halogen lighting (or daylight) , the transparent areas fluoresce an even more intense and deep grape-juice-purple color (shown in lower-right photo, which also overemphasizes internal fractures in the UV light). This is a fairly uncommon locale, and a large crystal for the mine I am told
LGC-06 - Hematite - $ 3000 SOLD Florence Mine, Egremont, West Cumberland Iron Field, Cumberland, Cumbria, England cabinet, 10.6 x 7.4 x 7.3 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Superbly formed, this is a particularly fine example of the reniform or mammaliary hematite variety kidney ore, for which these mines are so famous. It has fine luster and a deep red-rust color. Once plentiful on the market, specimens of this quality from the Cumbrian iron mines are now rarely seen for sale. Mined in the 1970's.
LGC-07 - Fluorite (twinned) - $ 4000 Boltsburn mine, Rookhope, Weardale, County Durham, England cabinet, 10 x 6.6 x 5.9 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is classic oldstyle Boltsburn material, with phantoms and deep purple color combined with huge crystal size - almost certainly pre-1860s from this famous mine. Very lustrous and translucent to transparent, this large, twinned, fluorite exhibits a fine, deep purple color. The larger crystal is multiply phantomed and color zoned. It also exhibits an intensely colored rich purple fluorescence under halogens or daylight. Contact on the back side and a little bit of edge wear make the price lower, but it is still a significant and highly displayable specimen of great impact from this classic old mine. The style and color saturation is distinctly Boltsburn. Sharp phantom lines are evident, and add great appeal when viewed as shown. Additionally, it strongly fluoresces in daylight or UV, oir even just with normal halogen lighting spectra.
LGC-08 - Arsenopyrite - $ 3000 Smith vein, Carrock Mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumberland, Cumbria, England small cabinet, 8.8 x 6.2 x 4.8 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
I am told by many people that this may well be the best arsenopyrite from England, as an aesthetic specimen at least. Considering what simply average Chinese arsenopyrite costs (already high) and how common it is, puts this piece into a significant context. Limestone matrix and milky quartz host an aggregate of parallel-grown splendent, silver-colored crystals of arsenopyrite to 3 cm in length. The back side has been contacted but can't be seen when the specimen is properly displayed from its two frontal angles as shown here or as in the book photo. Mined in the late 1980's by miner J.G. Wilson: his label and that of Ralph Sutcliffe accompany this significant locality specimen. I find it remarkable that for such a locality rarity, even by any standard it is still extremely aesthetic and not a "black ugly" by any means. Illustrated in the Greenbank Collection book, page 25 - a full page photo. (Joe Budd photo, shown here atop)
LGC-09 - Fluorite (twinned) - $ 1800 Alston Moor, Cumberland, Cumbria, England miniature, 4.2 x 4.0 x 3.6 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is a most unusual fluorite specimen, from the older fluorspar district of the region in Alston Moor. A green core gives way to color-zoned lavender and purple hues in this glassy and gemmy, equant, penetration twin of fluorite. Two faces have been preferentially coated with a druse of siderite. When backlit with a quartz halogen lamp the specimen explodes with neon, rich fluorite colors . Under the ultraviolet light or in sunlight the color is even more a deep rich grape-juice purple color. An old specimen probably from prior to the 1870s, this was long in the Ralph Sutcliffe collection - sold in 1991 to the Greenbanks.
LGC-10 - Calcite Heart twin - $ 11500 Gillfoot Mine, Egremont, Cumberland, Cumbria, England small cabinet, 6.3 x 6.3 x 3.8 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is a magnificent, glassy and gemmy, colorless "heart twin" of calcite. The specimen is pristine save for contact at the base which nearly all have anyhow. These superb twins date from the late 1800s and were the marvel of the mines, sold through fullpage ads to collectors in the United States through the late 1800s. To survive to today in such condition usually means it was in a museum drawer for 100 years. Also, such clarity, such brighht lustre, is extremely rare. The total colorlessness of the piece makes it stand out even in a case of fancier gem crystals, and it is literally like a "jewel." The photos do not convey this incredible lustre - it really IS finer than most other such examples I have seen, for all these qualities, in person. Even today, these English heart twins are immediately recognizable an dhighly desired, without peer in my opinion. The gemminess of this specimen is exceptional, clearly putting this into the top category of twins from Cumbria. It was in Ralph Sutcliffe's noted collection (until sold to Greenbank in 1990) and his label accompanies the specimen. Note the old label dated 1920, as well. Incredibly fine! Illustrated in the Greenbank Collection book, page 121 - a half page photo. (Joe Budd photo, shown here atop)
LGC-11 - Fluorite - $ 2250 340 level, Frazer's Hush Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, County Durham, England cabinet, 12.1 x 6.2 x 4.2 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Found in 1987 by miners Peter and Robert Rutherford, this matrix fluorite specimen is highlighted by many, equant glassy and gemmy, penetration twins of light-purple fluorite. The glassy lustre is extremely fine, as with may from this mine. The twins average 1.3 cm across and are aesthetically arranged over the length and breadth of the specimen. When backlit by a quartz halogen lamp, UV, or daylight,, the crystals are flushed with a rich, deep grape-juice-purple fluorescence . Nearly perfect and mesmerizing, this large specimen is sparkly and glassy like a jewel. HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH - better in person!
LGC-12 - Pyromorphite - $ 2150 SOLD Caldbeck Fells, Cumberland, Cumbria, England cabinet, 14.9 x 6.4 x 5.0 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
Emplaced on and in in a vuggy limonite matrix is a forest of spiky, lustrous, dark lime-green pyromorphite crystals to 3 mm in length. Super contrast in color and texture , overall! This was mined in the late 1970's from the bottom level of the Dry Gill Mine by Ralph Sutcliffe and Anthony Walshaw. A label from Ralph Sutcliffe accompanies the specimen. Very different in style for the norma for pyromorphite here, this piece is large and attractive as well as interesting.
LGC-13 - Hematite - $ 1500 Robertgate Bridge, West end, Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumberland, Cumbria, England cabinet, 13.8 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
A brilliantly sparkling , sugary plate of hematite composed of a flattish plate of reniform kidney ore (hematite) that has been overgrown by a second and very pretty generation of hematite; this time sparkling, black druse of specular hematite. The contrast shows through in a few spots, and the rolling kidney ore beneath makes the sparkling carpet look three-dimensional. One can easily see the hummocks from the underlying kidney ore outlined through the sparkle. Recovered in 1971 by the mine manager, F. Johnston. Spectacular and much better in person!
LGC-45 - Fluorite - $ 950 340 level, Frazer's Hush Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, County Durham, England small cabinet, 7.7 x 6.8 x 5.5 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
A freaky-lustrous, glassy and gemmy, penetration twin of deep purple fluorite, measuring 1.7 cm on a side, sits atop sphalerite-covered matrix here. The isolation is unusual and highlights the quality and form of the twin, which is among the most gemmy and well-developed we have seen. It has exceptional shallow surface features which make it interesting (and in fact a closeup is shown in "Classic Minerals of Northern England," page 86). The twin also fluoresces a rich, deep purple in daylight or UV lights. From the Frazer's Hush Mine, Weardale; and collected by miner Cliff Wilkie. Joe Budd photo, closeup.
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