Cuprite

specimen number:
2102271

location:
Wheal Gorland, St. Day, Cornwall, England, UK

description:

Classic old Cornish specimen with deep red octahedral crystals of cuprite to 0.2 cm in size forming a cluster with little attached matrix. This is in very good condition.

Wheal Gorland, located in the St Day district of Cornwall, England, is a legendary mine renowned for producing some of the world's finest secondary copper minerals. Geologically, the mine worked several rich hydrothermal veins, known as lodes, which were hosted in metamorphosed Devonian slates (killas) near the contact with the Carn Marth granite. These veins underwent intense oxidation, creating an incredibly diverse mineral suite in the upper levels of the mine. Wheal Gorland is particularly famous for its spectacular specimens of cuprite, which frequently occurred as deep red crystals, including the capillary variety known as chalcotrichite. Historically, the mine was most active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, reaching its peak between 1792 and 1844 when it produced significant quantities of copper, arsenic, and tin. Although it was incorporated into the larger St Day United group in the mid-19th century and eventually closed as the shallow secondary ores were depleted.

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