Detailed information
Species
Native Gold, Naumannite, Clausthalite
Dimensions
40 x 39 x 12
mm
Weight
48 g
Locality
Hope's Nose Torquay, Torbay Devon, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
This specimen is certainly different, both visually and chemically! A thin ( 2 to 4 mm) sawn disk (3.5 cm diameter) of Calcite bearing three rare species from Hope's Nose at Wellswood, Torquay, Devon, has been set in a slightly large disk of resin to form a polished more for ore microscopy analysis. The Calcite form cross-sections of interlocking maroon and creamy Calcite crystals containing a broad off-centre band rich in the silver selenide, Naumannite and lead selenide, Clausthalite. Although not readily apparent in the photograph, I can count at least 25 micro-patches and blebs of Native Gold distributed throughout this band. Hope's Nose forms a coastal headland, separating Tor Bay from Babbacombe Bay and was only rediscovered around 1980. These species are not easy to obtain from Hope's Nose, so this is an excellent opportunity to acquire them and so add to your British species count!