Wolframite in Quartz, Carrock Mine, Cumbria

Wolframite in Quartz from Carrock Mine, Caldbeck Falls, Cumbria, UK

Nice large specimens of Wolframite in a Quartz matrix from the Carrock Mine, Caldbeck Falls - these are perfect small cabinet pieces.

Hugely heavy for their size, lifting them feels very strange for the size of the rock. Wolframite is an ore of Tungsten, a very heavy metal with some unusual properties.

Carrock Mine was the only UK Tungsten mine outside of Cornwall.

I bought these from an ex-miner who worked in the mine, which closed in 1981. They may have some minor Scheelite or other minor inclusions.

#1 - 15x11x6.5CM - 1765 grams

A nicely contrasting piece with some white Quartz matrix. There is a little iron staining in some places.

#2 - 13x12x9CM - 1785 grams

A nice contrasting piece with some iron staining on the white Quartz matrix. This piece has a base which has been partially saw cut flat.