Clinoclase with Malachite

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Clinoclase, the beautiful and rare deep indigo-blue to electric-blue copper arsenate which was first described from Cornwall during the earliest years of the 19th century is one of the most sought-after Cornish mineral species. This miniature specimen from Wheal Unity reveals a bed of fractured fragmentary prismatic Quartz crystals cemented together with Clinoclase followed by Malachite. The Clinoclase forms small but very sharp, dark coloured microcrystals within cavities and coating the Quartz. Ex Malcolm Southwood Collection (no. MS 2001.001) it is also accompanied by a very early handwritten label from the famous Cornish-based mineral dealer, Richard (Dick) Barstow. Dated September 1972, it is highly likely that this was a self-collected specimen from when the mine dumps remained and the label pre-dates his use of his green stock labels and white private collection labels.