Witherite: Minerva #1 mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County Illinois USA

Description

Species: Witherite

Locality: Minerva #1 mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois USA

Dimensions: 13.5 x 13 x 8 cm.

Witherite, the unusual barium carbonate species, arguably reaches its zenith at southern Illinois’ famed Minerva #1 mine, where it occurs as large, lustrous, yellow-cream colored psuedohexagonal ‘barrels’ to over 10 cm. This is a very fine large cabinet-size example featuring lustrous, well-formed twinned psuedohexagonal yellow witherite crystals to 1 cm with minor alstonite, barite, and fluorite. This fine piece really stands out from other witherites in my opinion due to it’s three-dimensionality as well as the perfection of the crystals. Hard to get this species in this size or quality these days. Ex. Larry Venezia collection. Annette Slade photo. Classic!