Chalcocite (Ref: 5707)

You are looking at an excellent thumbnail-sized specimen of the venerable Levant Mine near Trewellard in Cornwall, England, which operated to extract Copper and Tin between 1793 and 1930. This wonderfully balanced specimen hosts two very attractive Chalcocite clusters, a very prominent main group measuring 1.2cm in size and a slightly smaller one. Both are very beautifully crystallized with excellent striations, a beautiful metallic luster and beautiful slightly bluish patina. If you, like me, see a hexagonal symmetry in the clusters, it’s because Chalcosite, normally monoclinic, is hexagonal at temperatures above 105°C. The Levant Mine offers a stunning view of the picturesque view of the Cornish coast, and is accessible as a tourist mine.