Deep in the rugged southwestern tip of Great Britain lies Cornwall, a land of myth, legend, and a mining legacy that stretches back to the Bronze Age. For centuries, this peninsula was the engine room of an empire, its granite bedrock yielding immense riches of tin and copper that fuelled the Industrial Revolution. The iconic, ghostly engine houses that dot the landscape stand as monuments to this bygone era, silent witnesses to the deep, dark, and often dangerous work that unearthed a world-class suite of mineralogical treasures. For collectors, Cornwall is not merely a location; it is a pilgrimage to the very heart of mining history.
The story of Cornish mineralogy is written in its two most famous metals. It began with cassiterite, the primary ore of tin, found in lustrous, dark crystals that have been sought for millennia. This was followed by the great copper boom, which revealed spectacular specimens of chalcopyrite, bornite, and chalcocite. But beyond the ores, the true magic of Cornwall lies in the complex secondary mineralogy. The region is famous for its remarkable “pseudomorphs” where one mineral has replaced another while retaining the original’s crystal shape, most notably cassiterite after orthoclase. This geological alchemy produced unique and fascinating specimens coveted by collectors worldwide.
While many of the historic mines have long since fallen silent, they left behind a legacy of breathtaking beauty. Cornwall is the type locality for a number of rare species, and it produced what many consider to be the world’s finest examples of minerals like the electric-blue liroconite, deep blue-green clinoclase, and vibrant blue-green chalcophyllite. Add to this the dazzling, colourful fluorites, sharp quartz crystals, and a host of other rarities, and it’s clear why the region holds such a special place in the hobby. To own a Cornish mineral is to hold a tangible piece of industrial heritage, a crystalline artifact rescued from the depths of a legendary mining district.
Whilst primarily focussed on the minerals of Cornwall, I will also include minerals from nearby counties in the southwest of England. Minerals of Cornwall aims to describe and illustrate as many species as possible. Photos and specimens on this site will mostly be from me, Steve Sorrell. Additional information, such as publications, museums, specific localities, etc. will be added from time to time.