Liroconite on STRASHIMIRITE

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Liroconite is an extremely rare copper arsenate species, first discovered during the latest years of the 1700s in a few closely related mines in Gwennap Parish, Cornwall. Despite its rarity it is universally known for its significance and value, in part due to its beauty. This choice large miniature to small cabinet specimen displays iconic blue Liroconite as perfectly formed classic, double wedge-shaped habit crystals to 1 to 2 mm in size. These bright crystals are abundantly clustered and scattered over the equally rare species, Strashimirite, occurring as pale pastel blue botryoidal crusts lining cavities within hard red-brown Quartz gossan matrix. Cavities in the gossan also have botryoidal dark green Pseudomalachite. Although the Liroconite crystals here are small, they stand out because of their colour, and are an excellent example of this super-rare species which has never been found in comparable crystals anywhere else in the world. The unusual combination with a backdrop of Strashimirite makes for a highly distinctive piece. A fine Liroconite specimen from this celebrated Cornish copper mine. Ex Peter and Simone Huber's fine collection in Austria before which it was in Fred H. Pough's (1906-2006) collection - one of the leading lights of American mineralogy. Comes with a custom-made base for display.