The wittichenite (BM 1977, 172) discovered in the course of a reflected light study of polished sections from the Seathwaite deposit, Cumbria (described earlier in this journal by Stanley and Criddle), is the first authenticated occurrence of the species in Great Britain; for this reason it was examined in detail and compared with a specimen (BM 1437) from Wittichen, the type locality. Chemical analyses, cell dimensions, visible-spectrum reflectances, quantitative colour values, and VHN's are provided. They are in agreement with previously published data for the species.