Barite with Calcite

specimen number:
8811324

location:
Pallaflat mine, Bigrigg, Cumbria, England

description:

Wonderful classic British specimen with pale bluish green mostly gemmy and lustrous tabular barite crystals across the top of this hematite matrix with a colorless gemmy scalenohedral crystal of calcite. This is in really good condition for one of these.

The Pallaflat Mine, situated near Bigrigg in the West Cumberland Iron Field of Cumbria, England, was established with the formation of the Pallaflat Mining Company in 1874, with its No. 1 shaft becoming operational by 1884 and total production eventually closing down in 1914 after expanding to three pits. Geologically, the mine targeted massive replacement deposits of high-grade red hematite situated within Carboniferous limestone. These ore bodies formed through the circulation of iron-rich hydrothermal and meteoric fluids along regional faults and bedding-parallel flats (particularly within the lower limestone units), creating rich iron reserves and distinct open cavities that yielded world-class specimen crystals of clear calcite and barite.

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