Cassiterite

specimen number:
2102257

location:
Imperial Goon Barrow Clay Pit, Bugle, Cornwall, England, UK

description:
Choice lustrous crystals of cassiterite measuring to just under 1.0 cm in size across the top of matrix. In good condition. Quite nice for the species for this Cornish locality. A previous label comes with the specimen from J. P. Gilddon.

The Imperial Goon Barrow Clay Pit, located near the village of Bugle in the St Austell district of Cornwall, England, is a major industrial site dedicated to the extraction of kaolin, commonly known as china clay. Geologically, the deposit was formed through the intense hydrothermal alteration and weathering of the St Austell Granite, a process where feldspar crystals within the igneous rock were transformed into soft, white kaolinite. This specific area is part of the Hensbarrow upland, which contains some of the highest-quality clay deposits in the world. Historically, kaolin was discovered in Cornwall in the mid-1700s, and Goon Barrow became a prominent name in the industry during the 19th and 20th centuries as demand for paper and ceramic coating skyrocketed. Operated for much of its peak by English China Clays (ECC) and later by Imerys, the pit saw continuous large-scale hydraulic mining throughout the 1900s. While some portions of the broader Goon Barrow complex have been reclaimed or repurposed as the industry consolidated in the early 21st century, the site remains a testament to the massive scale of Cornish clay quarrying and the unique geological processes that shaped the regional economy.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.