Hematite

specimen number:
2062729

location:
Beckermet Mine, Egremont, Cumbria, England, UK

description:
Non-lustrous example of kidney ore hematite, this botryoidal without matrix. A second-generation of smaller micaceous sparkling metallic hematite crystals is scattered sparsely throughout. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Beckermet Mine, located near Egremont in Cumbria, England, exploited massive replacement deposits of high grade iron ore hosted within Lower Carboniferous limestone strata concealed beneath younger Permo-Triassic red sandstones and breccias. Sinking operations began in the early 20th century, specifically with the Mildred Pit in 1903 and subsequent shafts developed by the Beckermet Mining Company to extract valuable low phosphorus resources for the British steel industry. Deep underground mining expanded significantly over the decades, often operating in conjunction with neighboring workings like Ullcoats before production finally wound down and the last deep mine operations closed in 1968.

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