Libethenite

Unknown Owner

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The late 19th century Samuel Henson dealer label accompanying this Cornish Libethenite specimen sums things up very nicely: "very large xx" - xx meaning 'crystals'. Phoenix United mine is well-known to have produced the largest Libethenite crystals in Britain during the latter years of the 19th century and these two crystals on a miniature specimen are considerable in size (1 and 0.9 cm). Henson's address as 277, Strand, London, dates his label to between 1878-1888. Neither crystal are entirely complete but do show the classic octahedral form. Ex Kay Robertson collection (with label and photographed by Rock Currier in 1973 - see Mindat.org), and ex. U.S. National Museum (Washington A. Roebling collection). A rare and extremely desirable Cornish classic.