MIX17B-57
Galena ps. after Pyromorphite, on Galena
Wheal Hope, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, UK
Small Cabinet, 5.7 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm
SOLD
This unusual specimen features the rare Cornwall galena pseudomorphs after pyromorphite, perched ON TOP OF a partial galena crystal, showing brilliant cubic cleavage faces. I have seen only a handful of these over the years, perhaps under ten specimens in total, and none had crystals on galena matrix that I can recall. For a gray mineral, the clusters are actually elegant and aesthetic, spreading nicely in fans atop the matrix. The contrast of the two galena styles, highlights the fan spray of crystals atop - and there are dozens of sharp crystals to 1.3 cm, many with a sparkly luster. A true rarity, from the heyday of mining here in the late 1800s. This was until recently in the lifelong lead minerals collection of Michael Harkness of Houston, much of which I recently purchased.