Barite

specimen number:
2102249

location:
2nd Sun Vein, Nentsberry Haggs Mine, Alston Moor, England, UK

description:
A loose grouping of glassy gemmy colorless tabular barite crystals. Minimal damage present, still in good condition. What at first appears to be a broken edge, is completely naturally crystallized as shown up close in the video.

The Nentsberry Haggs Mine, located in the Nent Valley of the Alston Moor district in Cumbria, England, is a classic locality within the North Pennine Orefield. Geologically, the mine exploited a series of mineralized veins and flat deposits hosted within the Carboniferous Yoredale Group, specifically targeting the Great Limestone and the underlying sandstone units. The mineralization is characterized by a complex assemblage of lead and zinc sulfides, but it is most famous among collectors for producing exceptional specimens of witherite and barytocalcite, often occurring as sharp, translucent crystals in cavities. Historically, the mine began significant development in the mid-19th century under the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company, which utilized the Haggs adit for deep drainage and ore haulage. It became one of the most productive mines in the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with major operations for lead and zinc continuing until the late 1950s.

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