Cuprite on NATIVE Copper with Quartz

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This beautiful sparking Cuprite specimen shows the classic Cornish association with metallic Native Copper and white crystallized Quartz. Cuprite, or ruby copper as it was once known, was well-known in the early years of mining in the Cornish copper mines, being concentrated near the Earth's surface in enrichment zones where primary copper sulphide ores had oxidized in or near to the level of the natural water table underground. Good examples had been found in many mines during the middle to late 18th century and are seen in historic collections like Philip Rashleigh's at the Royal Cornwall Museum. In the early 19th century, expansion and deepening of the famous mineral lodes at Wheal Gorland led to the discovery of exceptionally rich Cuprite crystals This very pretty glistening specimen comprises sheets and filaments of crystallized Native Copper over which small blood-red octahedral Cuprite crystals have formed, with small bright white Quartz crystal providing a lovely accompaniment. Classic old-time early 19th century material and in a really good-sized small cabinet size. Ex Martin Kershaw Collection.