Liroconite

If any mineral description needs to begin with a great big wow, then this is certainly one! Ready then?... Wow! Yes, it’s a smallish miniature, but the quantity and quality of blue and green Liroconite crystals packed into such a tiny volume is stunning. The specimen is from its type locality at Wheal Gorland in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall. This specimen is from the recently acquired Mike Brooke Collection and prior to this was in the Roland Thomas Collection. I have read Roland used to go collecting with Richard Barstow, although whether this was self-collected I do not know. I suspect not, as it’s more likely to be from a old collection, given its quality. An approximately 3 x 1.5 cm exposed vug is completely lined with well-developed Liroconite crystals; the minority are the characteristic blue, the majority bluish-emerald green. Since the recent discovery and naming of Kernowite (whose type locality is also Wheal Gorland), I’m aware some collectors err on assuming any green Liroconite is now Kernowite. Please note this is not the case and relates more to wishful thinking than chemical composition. I am informed Kernowite is very, very, very rare, with virtually every green Liroconite ever encountered actually being Liroconite! The crystals on this specimen measure around 2 to 3 mm, but do attain 5 mm, all sharply crystallised and with a bright glassy lustre. The matrix is a hard, chocolate brown veinstone rich in dense Quartz and shot through with thin stringers and pods of blue Liroconite. Need more be said, it’s a gorgeous specimen!

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Liroconite

SizeSmall Cabinet

Dimensions5.1 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm

Locality

UK, England, Wheal Gorland

Added on12/02/2024

Comments

Known provenance

2025/11