Sphalerite with Quartz

This fine cabinet specimen is typical of the minerals which came out of Wheal Jane during its revived period of operation during the 1970’s and 80’s until its closure. A heavy matrix of cryptocrystalline grey and white Quartz containing disseminated Pyrite and Chalcopyrite is richly coated with colourless to grey-white, well-developed and terminated Quartz crystals together with compound crystals of inky-black Sphalerite. Set against a greenish-grey chloritized crust which covers the matrix, the Quartz crystals are developed to over 2 cm long in diverse orientations. The Sphalerite varies from equant individual crystals to complex groups, one group being dusted with micro-crystals of Pyrite. A great and characteristic specimen from Wheal Jane at Baldhu, close to the city of Truro in Cornwall, England.