Tetrahedrite with Chalcopyrite, Galena, Quartz

specimen number:
2102258

location:
Herodsfoot Mine, Lanreath, Cornwall, England, UK

description:
Classic specimen for this locality with crystals of tetrahedrite, these coated with a thin layer of golden chalcopyrite, measuring to 0.5 cm are in size across the top of a crystallized galena matrix with quartz. Some damage present as seen.

The Herodsfoot Mine, located near the village of Lanreath in southeastern Cornwall, is one of the most famous localities for lead and antimony minerals in the United Kingdom. Geologically, the mine exploited north-south trending cross-course veins that cut through Devonian slate and siltstone, locally known as killas. These hydrothermal veins were primarily mineralized with argentiferous galena and the rare antimony sulfide tetrahedrite, which frequently underwent secondary alteration. Historically, the mine was worked sporadically in the early 18th century but saw its most significant period of activity between 1844 and 1884 under the management of Captain Thomas Trevillion. During this time, it became a prolific producer of silver-lead ore and gained international mineralogical fame for discovering spectacular, brilliant metallic specimens of bournonite, often referred to as "cogwheel ore" due to its distinctive twinning. Although commercial operations ceased in the late 19th century due to falling metal prices and the depletion of easily accessible ore, the site remains a legendary locality for collectors of world-class sulfide minerals.

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