Olivenite

This extremely rich Olivenite on iron stained milky Quartz veinstone is from Wheal Unity, one of the local group of mines associated with Wheal Gorland and the sensational copper arsenates of Gwennap Parish.  This historic group of mines are clustered around the present day village of St Day, only 4 km to the east of Redruth.  Probably about two hundred excellent terminated Olivenite crystals of just under 1 mm across cover an area of between 5 by 2 to 3 cm, of characteristic dark olive green with a bright lustre.  These are flanked by crystalline mats of felty, acicular Olivenite crystals of the habit Wood Olivenite.  A rich, aesthetic and well-priced specimen from this most famous of Cornish localities.