Detailed information
Species
Siderite, Quartz
Dimensions
55 x 84 x 50
mm
Locality
Tincroft Mine Illogan, Cornwall England
Condition
No recorded repairs
When it comes to fine British crystallized Siderite specimens Tincroft mine in Cornwall is one of the places which immediately springs to mind. This famous ancient copper and tin mine was active from the mid-18th century but it was not until the 19th century that it became well-known for excellent Siderite (iron carbonate) crystals, usually seen on Quartz in Quartz-Siderite veinstone. This really interesting specimen shows the classic mid-brown to fudge-brown Siderite crystals lining a cavity in milky Quartz veinstone, but these crystals under magnification are seen to be composed of many tiny pointed (rhombic) crystals, producing what look like tiny meat tenderizers, covered in many tiny sharp points. On the back of the specimen an old typed label attached in two parts "Tin Croft" and "near Redruth" is typical of a mid- to late 19th century style. A great older Cornish classic.
