Chalcocite

The old engine houses of the historic Levant mine still stand proudly, high on the spectacular rugged cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean near to Land’s End in Cornwall, England.  Levant mine is located within the St. Just Mining District, an area whose tin and copper mining dates to antiquity.  The first records of this mine date to around 1748 and by 1820 the mine was employing close to 400 men and women plus 186 children.  The mine workings of Levant famously extend to over a mile out under the sea and it is common knowledge that while working the shallow levels, the sound of boulders rolling during Atlantic storms could be heard on the seabed above.  Levant produced many specimen-grade mineral species, Chalcocite being one of its most iconic.  This small miniature is a flattened plate of well crystallised Chalcocite crystals of up to around 1 cm long, dark lead-grey and with a dull, slightly velvety metallic lustre.  A great example of Chalcocite from the Levant mine in south Cornwall and from the Dr Josef Clemente Collection.