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LGC-51 - Alstonite (circa late 1700's) - AUS$ 2765 Brownley Hill Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, Cumberland, Cumbria, England small cabinet, 6.5 x 4.8 x 4.6 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This is a VERY important old specimen from the type locality at Brownley Hill. Scalenohedrons of lustrous and translucent, milky white alstonite, to 5 mm in length, are nestled in a vug of massive, white barite. Additionally, we can say with certainty that it was mined in the late 1700s or very early 1800s because of the mis-spelling of the mineral name as Bromlite. This error only happened at that time , as the locality had not been accurately reported as yet - a matter resolved by 1805 or so. Ex. Collections of B.G.Amend of New York (1821-1911) with his label (see Greenbank book for more information) ; and John Marshall of Massachusetts in the early 1970's. Illustrated in "Classic Minerals of Northern England," page 63, as a full-page photo with its old label shown as well. Interestingly, this locality, and old specimens from it, are STILL to this day considered the best of species. Joe Budd photo, atop
LGC-56 - Witherite with Alstonite - AUS$ 6635 Fallowfield Mine, Hexham, Northumberland, England small cabinet, 7.3 x 7.0 x 6.1 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank
This large display specimen showcases a superb, 5.5 cm-long lustrous and translucent, milky-white crystal of witherite perched ato. The termination does exhibit very minor bruising but this lok sto me old wear, only, and is hard to see . Along with the specimen comes an old late-1800s Century label from the dealership of Boubee, Paris. These English witherites are significant for the species, and such large and isolated crystals are uncommon. As a bonus, this specimen is richly associated with the rare species alstonite, from this co-type locality. formerly exchanged out to the (well-noted) Eric Asselborn collection, much of which I also purchased a few years ago.
MD-180077 - Alstonite - - Archived Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level), Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK small cabinet, 5.1 x 4.1 x 2.7 cm.
5.1 x 4.1 x 2.7 cm. Sharp crystals to 7mm cover the whole upper face of this very rich specimen, collected by noted English dealer Lindsay Greenbank in 1989. Ex. Martin Zinn and Lindsay Greenbank Collections.
MD-190546 - Alstonite, Witherite - - Archived Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level), Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK cabinet, 9.7 x 4.1 x 3.7 cm.
9.7 x 4.1 x 3.7 cm. This specimen is covered by very sharp alstonite crystals to 6mm. At the top is a 2-cm cluster of witherite, as well.
MD-216041 - Alstonite, Baryte - - Archived Brownley Hill Mine (Bloomsberry Horse Level), Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK miniature, 4.3 x 3.4 x 3.0 cm.
4.3 x 3.4 x 3.0 cm. Alstonite is a very rare barium, calcium carbonate and this fine combination specimen from the co-type locality features a sharp, 1.2 cm, pseudo-hexagonal dipyramid set amidst sugary, snow-white baryte crystals on a bit of sulfide matrix from the historic Brownley Hill Mine of England. This is an excellent combination specimen of this rare species and classic locale. Ex. Mullane Collection.
MRZ258 - Alstonite - AUS$ 498 SOLD North Cross vein, Brownley Hill Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria, England miniature, 5.1 x 4.1 x 2.7 cm ex. Lindsay Greenbank ex. Martin Zinn
Sharp crystals to 7mm cover the whole upper face of this very rich specimen, collected by noted English dealer Lindsay Greenbank in 1989 at a rare lucky strike that produced modern specimens at this ancient locality. From his personal collection.
OLDEURO-107 - Alstonite with Witherite - AUS$ 2212 SOLD Brownley Hill Mine, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, Cumbria, England, UK (TYPE LOCALITY FOR BOTH SPECIES) small cabinet, 9.7 x 4.1 x 3.7 cm
This rich specimen dates back to , I would expect, the heyday here in the mid-1800s. It is covered by very sharp, alstonites to 6mm. Atop is a 2-cm cluster of witherite, as well. I think the orange dot atop is the remnant of a very old glue label. In any case, its surprisingly an attractive specimen, although there is some value to the even more attractively prepared, and exhaustively descriptive, old labels! All Content and Design ©1996-2010 The ArkenstoneBy-species Galleries | ||||||||||||||||||||||
