Cuprite with Native Copper

This fine small cabinet specimen of Cuprite and Native Copper crystals is from the world-famous Wheal Gorland in the parish of Gwennap, which became part of the St. Day United Mines set.  The village of St. Day is about 3 km east of Redruth in Cornwall, England.  Hundreds of 1 to 2 mm octahedral Cuprite crystals cover a massive Cuprite and milky Quartz veinstone within which is a 7 cm long by 2 cm wide band of crystallised Native Copper.  The Native Copper has a copper-tinted milk chocolate patina and the Cuprite crystals appear dark maroon, tending towards black.  However, in strong light the Cuprite is seen to be translucent claret-red with occasional flashes of brilliant blood-red.  This is a beautiful specimen and so characteristic of the Cuprite and Native Copper found in Wheal Gorland’s rich oxidation zone.  It is from the Dr Josef Clemente Collection of southern Germany.