Farnberry mine, near Alston in Cumbria, was one of very few mines in the UK that extracted Smithsonite as an ore of zinc during the late 19th century. Much of this ore was dull brownish porous 'dry-bone' Smithsonite but in some parts of the mine thick flowstone-type Smithsonite was found with the yellow variety known as "Turkey Fat" the most sought after for specimen collectors. This dense, thick (from 1 to 2.2 cm wide) layer of Smithsonite is not uniformly yellow but has been cut through the most intensely coloured section, providing a really attractive surface. It should be noted that this surface has not been polished but doing so will much improve its brightness and is recommended. Although Smithsonite could still be found on the dumps at the mine into the 1980s and 1990s is was as thinner, poorly coloured layers, suggesting that this specimen dates to when the mine was operating in the late 19th century. A very fine larger miniature specimen of this famous British Smithsonite.
