P1E-D68VarisciteAlPO₄·2H₂O,WavelliteAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·5H₂O

High Down Quarry, West Buckland, North Devon, Devon, England, UK

Dimensions: 76 mm x 38 mm x 16 mm
Field of View: 24.5 cm

Hemispheres of Variscite on black Codden Hill Cherts from Heddon High Down Quarry. Some of the hemipheres are broken open and reveal cores of Wavellite. Specimen in the David ifold Collection. The specimen remains as it was collected - I have often thought of soaking it in something like weak oxalic acid to remove the iron oxides but so far resisted.

JFQ-JMCRossmanite◻(LiAl₂)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)

Dorothy China Clay Pit, Whitemoor, St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 82 mm x 54 mm x 45 mm
Field of View: 77.0 mm

A specimen from Dorothy Clay Pit containing a mixure of tourmaline species part of which will be Rossmanite. Green tourmalines were reported from this clay pit in the early/mid 1970's and only after Rossmanite was first described did anyone carefully check material from here. The tourmaline crystals vary in composition along their length and green tourmaline here usually turns out to be Rossmanite. Specimens came from the base of the pit which is now full of waste material and inaccessible.

XNX-FVLMimetitePb₅(AsO₄)₃Cl,PhilipsbornitePbAl₃(AsO₄)(AsO₃OH)(OH)₆

Wheal Unity, St Day, Gwennap, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 35.1 mm
Field of View: 52 mm

Mimetite crystals on quartz veinstuff. The Philipsbornite is minute and in between the Mimetites. In this specimen and others I've studied the Mimetite crystals often have hollow cores.

E93-RJ8CassiteriteSnO₂,TopazAl₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂

Rocks Tin Mine, Rocks and Treverbyn United Tin Mines, Bugle, Treverbyn, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 50.3 mm x 50 mm x 16 mm
Field of View: 62 mm

Vein of Cassiterite bounded on either side by white granular Topaz. The specimen was swopped out of Plymouth Museum by the previous owner. The label shown in the child photograph is that of Colonel Sir William Serjeant (1857-1930).

A50-55EBerylBe₃Al₂(Si₆O₁₈),TopazAl₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂,QuartzSiO₂,FluoriteCaF₂

VC Quarry, Isle of Lundy, Torridge, Devon, England, UK

Field of View: 14.1 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 5.5 mm

Terminated crystal of Beryl measuring 5.5mm. Two minor crystals of purple Fluorite. Self collected specimen from the slope below VC Quarry during a Russell Society trip. Collected with written permission from the National Trust and Natural England.

MYF-9QWFluelliteAl₂(PO₄)F₂(OH)·7H₂O

Stenna Gwyn Mine, Foxhole, St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 24 mm x 15 mm x 4 mm
Field of View: 30 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 0.3 mm

Tiny crystals of Fluellite from the type locality. A very old specimen obtained when the John White collection was dispersed. It is typical of the material collected by Richard Talling and shows traces of residual purple Fluorite. Please view child photos to see close ups of the Fluellite crystals. Perfect crystals of Fluellite from this locality should be bi-pyramids with flat tops to the pyramids. All photograph taken using a Canon 80D camera with a Laowa 60mm macro lens and one extension tube.

AL0-34XOliveniteCu₂(AsO₄)(OH),AzuriteCu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂,Olivenite (Var:Wood Copper)Cu₂(AsO₄)(OH)

Wheal Unity, St Day, Gwennap, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 80 mm x 75 mm x 35 mm
Weight: 375 g

Olivenite var. Wood Copper with minor Azurite cutting through clear/white vein quartz. Specimen previously in the R. W. Barstow Collection (White label).

Botallack engine houses in late afternoon sunshine.

Botallack Mine, Botallack, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Botallack engine houses at Crowns Rock photographed September 2020. A group from the Russell Society were collecting on Wheal Edward dumps and this site is one of the best view points of the coastline. This part of the coastline is owned by the National Trust from whom prior written consent needs to be obtained before collecting. Natural England have also made the coastal mining strip a SSSI which they have named Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI: written consent also needs to be obtained from them prior to any movement of the mine dumps by mineral collectors.

Sunset at Botallack

Botallack Mine, Botallack, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Image recorded from the National Trust car park at Botallack September 26th 2020 . The detail in the photo is the restored slightly leaning chimney connected to the arsenic flues. The picture was taken as I waited to go nighttime hunting for scheelite as part of the Russell Society trip to the area. This part of the coastal strip is owned by the National Trust whose written consent must be obtained prior to collecting from the dumps. Written consent must also be obtained from Natural England who have turned the area into a SSSI which they call the Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI.

Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 9th May 2021

4PG-ET7WavelliteAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·5H₂O

Gunheath China Clay Pit, Stenalees, Treverbyn, Cornwall, England, UK

Dimensions: 49 mm x 40 mm x 35 mm

Hemisheres of Wavellite, some of which are broken to show the internal development, in a vein cutting through granite. In this specimen, the hemispheres of Wavellite have a black coating on their exteriour.