Hematite

specimen number:
2072353

location:
Egremont, Cumbria, England, UK

description:
A fine large example of lustrous botryoidal hematite, this material often referred to as kidney ore. In good condition.

The Egremont district, located in the West Cumberland Iron Ore Field of Cumbria, England, is world-famous for its high-grade hematite deposits situated within the Carboniferous Limestone. Geologically, these replacement deposits formed as massive lenses and pods where iron-rich fluids precipitated into the limestone, often creating spectacular "kidney ore" formations and the iconic "specularite" variety of hematite. The site is particularly renowned for its highly lustrous, rhombohedral hematite crystals, which are frequently found in aesthetic association with clear quartz or creamy barite. Historically, mining and quarrying for iron ore in the Egremont area date back to at least the 12th century, but large-scale industrial operations flourished during the 19th and early 20th centuries to support the British steel industry. Significant mines, such as the Florence Mine and the Ullcoats Mine, were major producers, with the Florence Mine notably being the last deep iron ore mine to operate in Western Europe before its final closure in 2007. As of 2026, the district remains a legendary mineralogical locality, celebrated for having produced some of the finest crystallized hematite specimens ever recovered.

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