Ludlamite on Siderite

Unknown Owner

Ludlamite is an extremely rare hydrated iron phosphate mineral which was first described from Wheal Jane in Cornwall way back in 1877. This lovely thumbnail specimen is from the same mine - the Type Locality - but was found during the 1980s when another pocket of this unusual species was discovered during reworking of the mine. Although this specimen is small, it features very large crystals of Ludlamite from this occurrence. Upon it, a fan-like spray of bladed monoclinic green coloured pearlescent Ludlamite crystals rise from a fragment of crystallized Siderite matrix. The Ludlamite crystals reach up to 1.5 cm on edge and are bright and fresh on one side and slightly iron (oxide) coated on the other. British Ludlamite crystals don't get much bigger than these. A proper Cornish rarity from Malcolm Southwood's collection.