Liroconite with STRASHIMIRITE

Unknown Owner

Liroconite is way up there as one of the most desirable minerals to own, even for collectors not specializing in Cornish minerals. Liroconite is so sought after that even small specimens attract high prices and larger, cabinet-sized pieces are now rarely seen at all. This stunning specimen is strikingly rich, in colour and crystallization and unusually displays two quite different colours of Liroconite: from the traditional 'copper sulphate' blue to glossy blue-green crystals. The glossy blue-green crystals are the richest and best developed, with a stunning wedge-shaped Liroconite crystal reaching 8 x 5 mm in size standing proud. Intergrown with the Liroconite is a pale green micaceous mineral, tentatively identified as Parnauite. More noticeable, is the powdery pale greenish white Strashimirite infilling spaces around the blue Liroconite. Clearly rare and old-time material, this specimen was formerly owned by the Victorian polymath John Ruskin. This is a really rather rich Liroconite for the price and with some wonderful associated species.