Andrewsite (Hentschelite-Rockbridgeite-Chalcosiderite mixture)

The classic Cornish mineral Andrewsite is actually a mixture of Rockbridgeite and Hentschelite with minor Chalcosiderite. Even though it is now a discredited species, it remains one of the “must have” Cornish species due to its aesthetic nature and historic connotations. It was a specimen of Andrewsite with Cuprite which featured on the cover of Peter Embrey and Bob Symes 1987 book, Minerals of Cornwall and Devon. This micromount sized specimen has about five intergrown spherical clusters of dull chrome-green Andrewsite, formed from radial fibrous crystals which create outer green shells grading to light chocolate-brown cores. The specimen also appears to contain some minute grains of Cuprite. From Phoenix United Mines near Linkinhorne in Cornwall, England, such specimen are very rarely seen and most difficult to come by.