{"title":"Featured Specimens","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"baryte-15","title":"BARYTE","description":"This classic gemmy and lustrous delicate pale blue Baryte is truly superb and would not look out of place in any of the world’s leading natural history museums.  The gemmy Baryte crystals are developed to almost 8 cm long by 4 cm wide and 4 mm thick.  Although 4 mm sounds relatively thin compared to the overall dimensions, they do appear quite thick and substantial.  Any individual blade is a translucent and subtle, greyish-duck-egg blue and where these crystals sit adjacent and in parallel, their colours intensify to a magnificent yet delicate light sky-blue.  Sat on a complexly shaped iron-rich matrix, this is mainly hidden by a sparkling overgrowth of glassy colourless Calcite crystals which form a beautiful foil to the Baryte.  A simply magnificent specimen which would stand out in the very best of collections.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57780470055247,"sku":"CC11351","price":2294.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC11351_e50a548a-7158-476b-8151-593866082be1.jpg?v=1783968591"},{"product_id":"fluorite-186","title":"FLUORITE","description":"If you have been searching for a particularly fine miniature and gemmy Fluorite from Hilton mine in Scordale, Cumbria, England, then this could be for you.  Four perfectly gemmy, rich lemon-yellow Fluorite crystals sit individually among a bed of much smaller crystals on a matrix of altered limestone.  The matrix provides a dark background to the Fluorite crystals and because of their remarkable transparency, the dark matrix shows though consequently emphasising their gemmy nature.  As is often observed in Northern England Fluorite, the larger crystals tend to form as interpenetrant twins while the smaller crystals remain as singles.  All four of the prominent Fluorites are twinned, but in each case display one dominant cube and one minor.  The largest of these measures 0.9 cm on edge.  This really is a beautiful and charming, gemmy yellow Fluorite from Hilton mine in east Cumbria, England.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781147205967,"sku":"CC21832","price":1850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC21832_22c4632f-5b4f-4b96-9298-5a646fc7c326.jpg?v=1783979677"},{"product_id":"fluorite-192","title":"FLUORITE","description":"White's Level at Middlehope Shield mine is where the world's first emerald-green Fluorite was discovered, way back in about 1818. It's significance was such that Edward Clarke, a lecturer at Cambridge University, produced an academic paper describing its discovery. Nowaday's green Fluorite is known from several localities in and around Weardale, including Height's mine and more recently the Rogerley and Diana Maria mines. However, the significance and rarity of specimens from the occurrence at Middlehope Shield mine mean that historic specimens are extremely sought after. This compact cabinet-sized specimen features superb twinned green Fluorite crystals displaying the iconic bevelled edges which, along with its sandy matrix, distinguish the material from any other occurrence in Weardale. This Fluorite is strongly daylight fluorescent, which produces a strong blue undertone, but as with all Middlehope Shield mine specimens it should not be left in sunlight for prolonged periods of time as the colour will fade. That said, it has been well kept for over two centuries, as this mine has famously been inaccessible for over a hundred years, and prior to that most specimens appear to have been extracted early on after its discovery. The crystals reach an impressive 2 cm on edge and are in excellent all round condition and display exceptional twinning growth-lines on the crystal faces. Considered by many to be the ultimate Fluorite to own from Weardale this Middlehope Shield specimen is a cracker. Ex brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 \u0026amp; 1956-2021) Collection.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781204025679,"sku":"CC28053","price":9252.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC28053_9524b1e8-de7e-4c85-8a09-d95f3771a06f.jpg?v=1783981700"},{"product_id":"hematite-var-kidney-ore-13","title":"HEMATITE   var. Kidney Ore","description":"A big iconic display quality Hematite from the famous West Cumbrian Iron Mining District in northern England. Nowhere else on Earth has produced such large, tactile specimens of this fascinating 'bubbly' form of iron ore. Known by the name 'Kidney Ore' because of its external shape, this is one of the most instantly recognizable minerals from England. Because of its hardness and durability this type of Hematite is suitable for handling and open display, making it one of the best minerals for encouraging a new generation of collectors into mineralogy. Many specimens from the West Cumbrian mines were never labelled precisely, but this superb larger display specimen comes from a rare collection assembled by someone who worked in the mines and who carefully documented the individual pits from which material came. This one is from Roanhead mine, a rarely seen locality for mineral specimens, making this a particularly important piece of Cumbrian history. At 4.5 kg in weight additional postage charges will be required depending on where the buyer is based.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781314552143,"sku":"CC43334","price":3331.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC43334_7159abdd-5033-4978-93c6-ac33f3b79dd7.jpg?v=1783986419"},{"product_id":"siderite-var-ladys-slipper-epimorph","title":"SIDERITE   var. Lady's Slipper epimorph","description":"A wonderful old-time classic \"Lady's Slipper\" epimorph of Siderite after Baryte from the world famous Virtuous Lady mine near the equally fabulously named village of Buckland Monachorum in Devon. Discovered in 1832, these unusual epimorphs are instantly recognisable and highly desirable. This cabinet specimen is dominated by a perfect 90 mm long epimorph with several partial epimorphs forming at its base. There is a light dusting of Pyrite microcrystals across the surface that provides additional sparkle. It will form an excellent talking point in any fine collection of classic British minerals. It is accompanied by several twentieth century collection labels, but its earlier history is not recorded.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781315207503,"sku":"CC43488","price":3701.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC43488.jpg?v=1783986457"},{"product_id":"schorl-with-quartz-1","title":"SCHORL   with QUARTZ","description":"A west country classic dating back to the first half of the 19th century. Fine, equant, blocky, glossy black tourmaline crystals of the individual species Schorl were discovered in Devon around the year 1817. They were, at that time world-class tourmaline crystals and drew considerable attention. Many were labelled as from Chudleigh, or Bovey Tracey, but the exact locality was near Woolley Farm. This vague provenancing can be seen on the old Italian label accompanying this specimen - recording it as from \"Exeter - Devonshire\". Reprovenancing of specimens should be undertaken with the utmost of care, but in this instance there can be no mistaking that it is from this famous occurrence. To the specimen itself: well, I should really let it do the talking as it is one of finest I have seen for sometime. There is notable damage to the surface of the crystal, but it is rare that you see a complete, all-round crystal like this of such lovely shape. This main crystal is an impressive 4.3 cm across at its widest point and sits nicely for display nestled within a bed of slightly smoky needle Quartz crystals. It is a short prism with nicely developed striated prism faces, a naturally etched 'feathery' lower termination and a superb three-sided sloping pyramidal termination at the top, with minor abrasion. A smaller Schorl crystal is attached to one side of the base of this main crystal. The matrix contains pinkish Feldspar, something very typical of this occurrence. Overall, it is a fine display specimen of one of the all-time British classics. Ex Malcolm Southwood collection, no. MS 2013.126. ","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781380481359,"sku":"CC48328","price":1110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC48328_422ae43e-3aa0-40e1-b545-379ace3bb77d.jpg?v=1783988110"},{"product_id":"pyromorphite-243","title":"PYROMORPHITE","description":"There is something very special about the old-time 19th century Pyromorphite specimens that came out from Roughton Gill mine that even the very best 'modern' late 20th century finds cannot ever compare with. This large miniature specimen just exudes class. With its dense heavy feel, due to it being a solid aggregate of seed-like Pyromorphite (a lead-bearing mineral) crystals, and its marvellous 'wet' resinous to greasy lustre and superb mid green colour. Once well-known, specimens of this historic class are sadly now few and far between, with most still locked away in museum stores. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection, we do not know its earlier history, but we do know that most Roughton Gill specimens of this quality passed through the hands of Bryce (or Brice) Wright Sr. or Jr. during the mid to late 1800s. An absolute classic from northern England.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781472788815,"sku":"CC54492","price":2591.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC54492_260256a1-ab70-495d-83ac-f414cd133447.jpg?v=1783990219"},{"product_id":"calcite-29","title":"CALCITE","description":"A beautiful and classic cabinet specimen of gemmy, colourless terminated Calcite crystals which grade to translucent white lower in the prisms.  From the well-known Pallaflat mine, adjacent to the small mining village of Bigrigg in west Cumbria, England, these truly magnificent Calcite crystals form a spectacular group of variously orientated prismatic crystals measuring to 4.6 cm, covering a thin matrix of red-brown, botryoidal Hematite with minor yellowish Goethite.  The Pallaflat mine began operating in the early 1880s and worked through to 1914.  Pallaflat is world famous for its Calcite specimens, having produced some of the best in the world.  This is a true west Cumbrian classic worthy of the best Museum collections and is accompanied with an old Anton Berger (Mödling bei Wien) printed\/typed label.  Interestingly (or perhaps more amusingly) labelled ‘Pallaflat, Cornwall, England’.  It’s easy to snigger, but if unfamiliar with English geography, it was easy to confuse Cornwall with Cumberland, the former county name for parts of what is now Cumbria.","brand":"Crystal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57781503590735,"sku":"CC7469","price":5551.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/3748\/2063\/files\/CC7469.png?v=1779765906"}],"url":"https:\/\/crystalclassics.co.uk\/collections\/featured-specimens.oembed","provider":"Crystal Classics UK","version":"1.0","type":"link"}