Group of small Pyromorphite crystals, well individualized and arranged in a relatively isolated way on a Quartz matrix. They have a striking very bright yellow color, which strongly contrasts with the white of the matrix. The crystals, with defined habit, are distributed in a dispersed manner, allowing their morphology to be clearly appreciated.
Roughton Gill is an old mining area that forms part of the historic mining district of Caldbeck Fells, well known since the 18th century for its exceptional mineral diversity and for producing many classic specimens highly valued by collectors.
Geologically, the mineralization occurs there in hydrothermal veins cutting Ordovician volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. These veins mainly host lead and zinc mineralization with numerous secondary minerals developed in the oxidation zone. Among them, Pyromorphite and Mimetite are particularly notable; in Roughton Gill the Mimetite commonly occur in the form historically known as 'campylite', characterized by short, curved, barrel-shaped crystals typically showing brown to orange colors.
Barstow's cut, Roughton Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Allerdale, former Cumberland, Cumbria England / United Kingdom
Specimen size: 6 × 4 × 1.4 cm = 2.36” × 1.57” × 0.55”
Main crystal size: 0.2 × 0.2 cm = 0.08” × 0.08”
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