Detailed information
Species
Olivenite
Dimensions
42 x 40 x 27
mm
Locality
Wheal Gorland St. Day United Mines, Gwennap Cornwall, England
Condition
No recorded repairs
A small miniature of solid, crystallized Olivenite from Wheal Gorland forming radial hemispheres of fine acicular crystals of the variety "Wood Copper" or "Wood Olivenite". This specimen has an old feel about it, perhaps because of the patina and crusty texture of the outer surface and because it looks similar to pieces in Philip Rashleigh's collection in the Royal Cornwall Museum. About half the display face surface area is composed of acicular Olivenite hemispheres which grade from greenish-tan cores to dark bottle green outer shells. More massive, pale peppermint green Olivenite surrounds these structural features and adopts an earthy texture and lustre. A fine miniature Wood Olivenite from this most famous of Cornish mines.