Witherite: Pigeon Roost mine, Glenwood, Montgomery Co., Arkansas USA

Description

Species: Witherite

Locality: Pigeon Roost mine, Glenwood, Montgomery Co., Arkansas USA

Size: 11.5 x 14 x 4 cm.

Ex. Don R. Owens Collection

Witherite specimens from the Pigeon Roost mine in Arkansas are probably the rarest and most desirable specimens in the world for this popular barium carbonate mineral. Found in one pocket nearly fifty years ago, they are a true “hen’s tooth” item of American mineralogy, and have always been coveted. This is a LARGE example for this find, with distinctive flattened twinned gemmy white witherite crystals to nearly 4 cm(!) on matrix. While there is some peripheral damage, overall this is an excellent and quite large example of this important find, and a very rare thing for the serious collector of classic American minerals! Mark Cross photo.