Detailed information
Species
Cuprite, Chlorite
Dimensions
110 x 66 x 53
mm
Locality
Wheal Gorland, Gwennap St Day District, Cornwall England
Condition
No recorded repairs
A rib of Quartz-Chlorite gossan with an extremely vuggy and porous structure is richly invested with carpets of sparkling metallic deep maroon octahedral Cuprite crystals, most to about 1 mm in size, but some up to 3 mm across. Small cabinet in size, it displays very well indeed. It is from perhaps the best-known mineral occurrence in Cornwall - Wheal Gorland at St. Day, near Redruth - where stunning crystallized Cuprite was encountered during the earliest years of the 19th century. The myriad of Cuprite crystals and their numerous bright lustrous faces, give a constant sparkle from all angles. A showy display specimen of old-time classic British Cuprite. An old typed label accompanies the specimen but gives no background to its history.