A classic British Calcite specimen from the historic Pallaflat Mine at Bigrigg, Cumbria. Renowned for producing some of England’s most coveted Calcite specimens, this celebrated locality is famous for its beautifully lustrous, transparent crystals, spectacular nail-head and sharply pointed scalenohedral formations. Highly sought after by collectors of historic British minerals, Bigrigg Calcites represent an important part of England’s mineralogical heritage.
0.160kg
10 x 6 x 3.5 cm
Only 1 left in stock
Bigrigg Calcite from the famous Pallaflat Mine in Cumbria, one of Britain’s most celebrated historic Calcite localities.
Bigrigg Calcites are renowned for their exceptional crystal definition, brilliant glassy lustre and remarkable variety of formations. From flattened nail-head crystals to sharply pointed scalenohedra and the much rarer butterfly twins, these specimens display some of the most distinctive Calcite growth habits found in British mineralogy.
Perhaps one of their most fascinating characteristics is the occasional presence of selective Hematite coatings, which can colour one side of a crystal red or brown while leaving the opposite side beautifully clear. This unusual natural contrast has become one of the most recognisable features of the locality.
The Pallaflat Mine, situated near Bigrigg in the historic West Cumberland Iron Field, was originally worked for Hematite iron ore. The Pallaflat Mining Company was established in 1874, with mining continuing until the mine’s closure in 1914.
Although iron ore was the primary focus of the operation, the mine became internationally recognised amongst mineral collectors for the exceptional Calcite crystals discovered within its mineralised limestone deposits.
The importance of Bigrigg Calcites extends well beyond their appearance. These specimens have been studied, documented and preserved in historic mineral collections for well over a century, with examples finding their way into major museum collections.
Although the mine closed in 1914, further specimens were recovered by collectors working the old mine dumps during the 1980s. Today, fine examples are increasingly scarce, making Bigrigg Calcites particularly desirable.
Bigrigg Calcites are amongst the most recognisable and coveted examples of classic British Calcite, celebrated for their remarkable crystal formations, exceptional lustre and fascinating mining history.
Their significance extends beyond aesthetics, representing an important chapter in Britain’s mineralogical heritage. With the original mine long closed, examples offer collectors an opportunity to preserve a piece of this celebrated locality’s history.
| Weight | 0.160 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 × 6 × 3.5 cm |
To assist customers in “stretching” to higher-value specimens, we are happy to work with you on payment plans for orders over £150 with terms starting from 2 months all the way to 12 months for larger purchases . Full payment must be made within the calendar year.
Payment plans are not applicable for items that are discounted or on sale.
1. A 25% NON-REFUNDABLE down payment is required to initiate the payment plan and reserve the item(s), due immediately upon receipt of the first invoice. This 25% will be of the total purchase price including shipping and taxes (if applicable). If you’d like to put down more than 25%, we can adjust the remaining payments accordingly.
2. The remaining 75% (or less, if more than 25% was paid initially) will be divided into monthly payments of equal amounts to be completed within the calendar year. The number of payments is subject to discussion with a member of staff who will work closely with clients to custom tailor payment plans.
3. Clients will receive an invoice to initiate payment – subsequent invoices will be emailed to you monthly. Cancellation or failure to pay invoices with a lapse of 10 days will result in cancellation of the payment plan and forfeiture of the item and 25% non-refundable deposit and admin fee. Any amount paid in excess of the non-refundable deposit would be refunded via the method of payment used.
4. There is no penalty for early payment. At any time, clients may reach out to a sales team member to pay the remaining balance in full.
5. Upon completion of the payment plan in full, the specimen(s) will be shipped to the client.
6. Items purchased via payment plan are subject to a no-refund policy. Items may be returned at the expense of the buyer for credit equal to the item price (minus taxes and shipping costs) to be applied to any other full price item in inventory. Unused credit will not be refunded in these cases.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to a member of the sales team
Fill out the form below to contact us with an offer for this piece.
Sign up to our mailing list for 10% of your first order
