Detailed information
Species
Chalcopyrite, Baryte, Quartz
Dimensions
54 x 68 x 23
mm
Weight
68 g
Locality
Caradon Mines St. Cleer, Liskeard District Cornwall, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
As far as miniature specimens of crystallized Cornish Chalcopyrite go this is a stunner. It comprises a bed of finely crystallized frosted Quartz upon which sit inconspicuous grey-white freestanding bladed crystals of what appears to be slightly etched Baryte, but more noticeable are a line of perfect tetrahedral Chalcopyrite crystals individually reaching 1.1 cm on edge, with a larger one set off to one side of the specimen. These crystals are superb, sharp, and very 3-dimensional with a fine golden metallic surface appearance with minor dark grey coatings of possible Chalcocite. Beneath the bed of Quartz is a 5 mm thick layer of pale purple Fluorite sandwiched in green Chlorite. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection, previously labelled as South Caradon mine.