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This is a truly strange specimen featuring bright, electric green crystals to 5 mm of what were said to be liroconite, when I got it from an old collection. I had doubts, and so I had it analyzed every which way: it IS liroconite and in fact will be part of a comprehensive study on the mineral and this locality that will be published soon by a friend and geochemist who did the analytical work (included with purchase)! He tells me that while other "green liroconites" are often just primary chalcophyllite or chalco pseudo. liroconite, this is actually a nearly pure liroconite state, and not altered or pseudomorphed significantly although there is some chalcophyllite present in the crystals. Although other specimens have been analysed by his studies, that are superficially similar, they have all turned out to be too impure to call "liroconite," as opposed to this one which is legit. I have never seen the like, and it happens to be an aesthetic miniature to boot!
ex. Albert Chapman ex. Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts
This exquisite miniature features not one but THREE incredibly sharp crystals to 1 cm on edge, absolutely pristine and razor-honed on edges. It is thus, for the size and quality of the liroconite as well as their display aesthetics, a major specimen in every regard (quality, size, showiness). The minute white material richly coating the upper surface of the specimen is strashimirite (very rare!). It is exceedingly rich, for this secondary mineral, alone. But the liroc, contrasted with the spotted white background, is all the more impressive. This speicmen was collected in the 1850s in all likelihood. Baroness Burdett-Coutts was a major collector active in the late 1800s, who travelled extensively and acquired many rarities and locality pieces. I believe this is oustanding, and must be one of the better pieces not in a museum.
ex. Smithsonian Institution
Liroconite is a very rare copper species found in upper oxidized zones of just a few deposits, most notably this TYPE LOCALITY deposit in England, circa early to mid 1800s. I am told that all good specimens we see today came out of the ground by the 1870s at latest. Specimens of this size and richness are VERY scarce on the market. They only come up in old collections, and even then are few and far between. Frankly, I buy every good one I can lay hands on for their beauty, uniqueness, and importance as historic pieces. This specimen has both the rare green liroconite, and more typical blue color. The cluster of green crystals, individually to 4mm, is 1.4 cm across. The richness and quality of these crystals is extremely high and such specimens are hard to find at any price today (though lesser ones , often priced $5000-10,000 anyhow simply as "representative specimens!", sometimes crop up and were present at the Munich show with a prominent English dealership). This piece was formerly in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution
ex. Harvard University
Liroconite, a rare and beautiful copper species, is one of those Holy Grails of mineral collecting to own in impressive specimens. These were collected in the early to mid 1800s, and then never again. They remain unique to this ancient mine in good quality, and nothing like it has been foudn anywhere else since. Even small specimens with 4-5 mm crystals are considered rare and desirable. Seldom do you see one so rich, so colorful, as this piece! It has a quartz pocket hosting a rich coating of liroconite in all the crevasses between the quartz, for a super , intense blue color to the piece as a whole. Although there is much damage and the color is largely due to a simple drapery of drusy liroconite, still it is so rich that the piece has a significance for that alone. But mixed in with the color background, are some very robust, large crystals to 9mm, particularly in two protected pockets about the middle of the specimen. In fact, I think that a careful but somewhat risky trim about the middle would result in two specimens, each displaying a major crystal in its pocket very well, and the result being worth the same for each half of the piece. Ex Harvard Museum collection. Joe Budd photos
ex. Irv Brown
Liroconite is one of those "holy grails" of mineral collecting that is basically impossible to get ahold of. The reason is that they came out in the mid-1800s and haven't been seen since in any quality from any place. Specimens are treasured, and seldom deaccessed from collections. I buy just about every piece i DO see for sale and out of all of them, this is the biggest crystals I have ever owned or seen for sale. It is a fat, juicy crystal with extremely sharp edges, and displays phenomenally! This species was made famous by the extraordinary Cornwall specimen in the 19th. century collection of Phillip Rashleigh which can now be seen in the Truro Museum. For those who have not seen his incredible specimen, a photo is on the back cover of "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon" by Embrey and Symes, 1987.
ex. Dr. Frederick Pough
This is a striking piece with INTENSE COLOR, perhaps the best color I can recall seeing for sheer color saturation, in liroconite. The color is unqiue too - not another mineral like it. Specimens like this would date to around 1840-1860 primarily, and are hard to get today in ANY size. This happens to be a superb thumbnail. From the thumbnail collection of Dr Fred Pough, former AMNH curator and well known author of the Field Guide to Minerals. The previous collector got it directly from Pough, who said that he in turn got it from Sir Arthur Russell (although no label survives)
3.4 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm. A superb, CLASSIC and old-time toenail of two, well-placed vugs on gossan matrix richly lined with lustrous, blue-green liroconite blades and sparkly, dark blue clinoclase microcrystals. Liroconite, in combination with clinoclase, are Holy Grail species for Cornwall or English collectors, among the rarest ever found in beautiful crystals, and this is a good one that is a display specimen AS WELL AS a reference piece. Mined in the 1820s-1850s from this type locality.
1.6 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm. An EXCELLENT and RICH thumbnail of lustrous, dark turquoise-blue liroconite crystals aesthetically set in quartz-rich matrix from the famous Wheal Gorland Mine of Cornwall. Liroconite is a Holy Grail species for Cornwall or English collectors, among the rarest ever found in beautiful crystals, and this is a good one that is a display specimen AS WELL AS a reference piece. Mined in the 1820s-1850s, this was most recently in the Fay Pough Collection, wife of the well-known mineralogist and author. This is a very nice example, for the size and quality of the liroconite crystals.
3.8 x 3.3 x 1.9 cm. A GORGEOUS, 3-dimensional miniature richly covered with lustrous, dark turquoise-blue liroconite crystals and aesthetically set in quartz-rich matrix from the famous Wheal Gorland Mine (Type Locality) of Cornwall. Liroconite is a Holy Grail species for Cornwall or English collectors, among the rarest ever found in beautiful crystals, and this is a good one that is a display specimen AS WELL AS a reference piece. Mined in the 1820s-1850s.
4.8 x 3.3 x 3.3 cm. A very rich and showy miniature covered with lustrous, turquoise-blue and green liroconite crystals and aesthetically set in quartz-rich matrix from the famous Wheal Gorland Mine (Type Locality) of Cornwall. The richness of green liroconite is unusual. Liroconite is a Holy Grail species for Cornwall or English collectors, among the rarest ever found in beautiful crystals, and this is a good one that is a display specimen AS WELL AS a reference piece. Mined in the 1820s-1850s.
5.2 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm. This is a truly strange specimen featuring bright, electric green crystals to 5 mm of GREEN liroconite! While other "green liroconites" are often just primary chalcophyllite or chalcophyllite pseudo. liroconite, this is actually a nearly pure liroconite state, and not altered or pseudomorphed significantly although there is some chalcophyllite present in the crystals.
4.3 x 3.2 x 2.0 cm. This exquisite miniature features not one but THREE incredibly sharp crystals to 1 cm on edge, absolutely pristine and razor-honed on edges. It is thus, for the size and quality of the liroconite as well as their display aesthetics, a major specimen in every regard (quality, size, showiness). The minute white material richly coating the upper surface of the specimen is strashimirite (very rare!). This specimen was collected in the 1850s in all likelihood. Baroness Burdett-Coutts was a major collector active in the late 1800s, who traveled extensively and acquired many rarities and locality pieces. Ex. Albert Chapman and Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts Collections.
1.1 x 1 x 0.4 cm. Liroconite is one of those "holy grails" of mineral collecting that is basically impossible to get hold of. The reason is that they came out in the mid-1800s and haven't been seen since in any quality from any place. Specimens are treasured, and seldom deaccessed from collections. Ex. Irv Brown Collection.
6.7 x 5.0 x 3.2 cm. This mine produced the world’s finest liroconite specimens more than 150 years ago. Nestled in a quartz vug are several, intensely blue, very lustrous, liroconite crystals, to 0.75 cm across. This is a fine, very old, specimen and almost never found in dealers stocks. The color intensity and saturation here are top quality, and it is a rich specimen.
5.2 x 4.3 x 2 cm. A very richly crystallized specimen of the rare copper arsenate from the type locality in Cornwall, England. Though the crystals are mostly small (1 or 2 mm range), they are sharp and have top color. They are both bladed and pyramidal in habit. Some are even gemmy.
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share specimen![Liroconite (GREEN!) from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/corn07a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/corn07a.jpg)
![Liroconite (GREEN!) from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/corn07b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/corn07b.jpg)
![Liroconite with Strashimirite from Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/corn08a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/corn08a.jpg)
![Liroconite with Strashimirite from Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/corn08b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/corn08b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines, Gwennap area, Cornwall, England ( TYPE LOCALITY ) [db_pics/new2010/D1086x.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/D1086x.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines, Gwennap area, Cornwall, England ( TYPE LOCALITY ) [db_pics/new2010/D1086g.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/D1086g.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines, Gwennap area, Cornwall, England ( TYPE LOCALITY ) [db_pics/new2010/D1086f.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/D1086f.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines, Gwennap area, Cornwall, England ( TYPE LOCALITY ) [db_pics/new2010/D1086c.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/D1086c.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines, Gwennap area, Cornwall, England ( TYPE LOCALITY ) [db_pics/new2010/D1086a.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/D1086a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-05.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-05.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-07.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-07.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-10.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/Liroconite-WhealGorland-England-69mm-JB392-10.jpg)
![Liroconite from Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/dtn39a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/dtn39a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Cornwall, England [db_pics/pics/dtn39b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/m/dtn39b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/new2011/D10137b.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/D10137b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/new2011/D10137c.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/D10137c.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/new2011/D10137d.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/D10137d.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, Cornwall, England [db_pics/new2011/D10137e.jpg]](db_pics/new2011/D10137e.jpg)
![Liroconite, Clinoclase from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-120699a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-120699a.jpg)
![Liroconite, Clinoclase from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-120699b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-120699b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-135287a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-135287a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-157379a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-157379a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-157379b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-157379b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-159468a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-159468a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-159468b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-159468b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171813a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171813a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171813b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171813b.jpg)
![Liroconite, Strashimirite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171815a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171815a.jpg)
![Liroconite, Strashimirite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171815b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171815b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171817a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171817a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171818a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171818a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-171818b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-171818b.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-174627a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-174627a.jpg)
![Liroconite from Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines), Gwennap area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK [db_pics/mdpics/MD-174627b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-174627b.jpg)