A classic specimen of galena on matrix from the historic Whitespots–Conlig Lead Mines near Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. The piece shows a metallic galena crystals embedded in dolomite-rich brecciated matrix typical of the deposit. While the crystal shows some minor bruising along a few edges, the specimen still presents well and clearly illustrates the style of mineralization from this well-known locality.
The Whitespots–Conlig mining district was one of the largest lead-producing areas in Ireland during the early nineteenth century, yielding as much as 15,000 tons of refined lead along with smaller amounts of copper and silver. The mineralization occurs in hydrothermal veins and dolomite-cemented breccias within Silurian greywackes and shales. Galena was the principal ore mineral, accompanied by chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite with gangue minerals including dolomite, calcite, quartz, and barite. The locality is also notable for producing harmotome, a rare barium zeolite and the only known occurrence of that species in Northern Ireland. Today the extensive spoil heaps and historic mine features remain an important record of Ireland’s mining heritage and continue to yield interesting mineral specimens. From the international collection of Robert Yeoman.
