Detailed information
Species
Chalcocite
Dimensions
50 x 25 x 20
mm
Locality
St Ives Consols St Ives, Cornwall England
Condition
No recorded repairs
St Ives Consols was one of the most famous of the Cornish mines to produce exceptional Chalcocite crystals and this miniature specimen is an extremely fine example of its wonderful crystal form. Thick tabular pseudohexagonal dark grey Chalcocite crystals reaching 2 cm across form an attractive pure dense aggregate, but it is the smaller, finer, glossy Chalcocite crystals that have grown epitaxially upon the surface of the larger crystals which really elevate this specimen to greatness. These smaller crystals show preferential growth along the 'rims' of the larger pseudohexagonal crystals, as linear clusters of intergrown sub-mm scale hexagonal crystals. Excellent individual isolated Chalcocite microcrystals are also seen glistening upon the edge faces of the larger Chalcocite crystals too. A fine example of a Cornish Chalcocite. Ex E.D. Taylor Collection, no. 62/1/281b, but his label although present, is suffering from decay.