Amethyst

This small cabinet-sized specimen features lustrous, sparkling amethyst crystals from a recent 2018 discovery at a historic, long-closed lead mine near Placentia Bay in eastern Newfoundland. The crystals are richly coloured near the terminations and become lighter or colourless towards the prism, creating a striking visual contrast. This specimen is unique, as it's filled with micro,  >1mm, black spheres of what appear to be hematite or manganese oxides. The surface of the crystal also shows some curious pitting, perhaps from points where the spheres got too close to the surface and burst? Really neat to observe under the microscope.

According to Mindat, the mine was originally discovered in 1855 during the Telegraph Land Company's efforts to lay a trans-Atlantic cable. The mine began operations in 1857, and by 1873, approximately 3500 tons of galena were extracted, with mining continuing until 1887. A new shaft was sunk to a depth of 122 meters in the 1920s, but a dam break in 1929 flooded the mine, and subsequent market crashes led to its closure. This specimen is a fine example from this historically significant location.