Northern Minerals

Browse images and information about the Museum and Archive collections here.

The mines of the North of England are renowned for their wealth of exceptional minerals.
Primarily mined for metals like lead and iron, many other minerals have been discovered.


Calcite from Florence Mine near Egremont in Cumbria


This is a specimen of calcite from Florence Mine near Egremont in Cumbria. It has been taken in close-up to magnify the sharp, pointed crystals (a shape called scalenohedronal). The red colour comes from iron staining the crystals.


Barytocalcite from from Alston in Cumbria


This is Barytocalcite. The platy shape of the crystals is very similar to the form of a Desert Rose.
This specimen is from Alston in Cumbria, probably one of the mines near Nenthead.