Hematite with Quartz

Hematite with Quartz from Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumberland, England, measuring 56 × 40 × 25 mm and weighing 51 grams. The specimen shows dark Hematite associated with pale Quartz, giving the piece a pronounced contrast. Florence Mine connects the contrasting association with a specifically identified English iron-mineral occurrence.

Hematite is an iron oxide and one of the principal minerals through which iron appears in the Earth's crust. Quartz is silicon dioxide, chemically distinct from the oxide despite its frequent presence in mineral associations. Together they give a collector an opportunity to consider both the ore-related mineral and the accompanying silicate within a single specimen.

Florence Mine supplies the precise working, followed by Egremont and the recorded Cumberland attribution. That mine-level detail is valuable when assembling material from the iron-mining localities of northern England. The compact dimensions make this a useful comparative piece, with the contrasting minerals providing a clear visual theme for a small cabinet or locality tray. The specimen's provenance includes the David Vince and Ruth Coulsell collections. Both names remain part of the account, preserving its history beyond the mine itself. The appeal lies in the combination of a defined English source, a visually contrasting association and a convenient specimen size, bringing a familiar iron mineral into a more individual and memorable collecting context.