Libethenite Crystal W Basset Carn Brea Cornwall UK Copper Mineral Specimen

Genuine Libethenite – W Basset, Carn Brea, Cornwall

This Libethenite crystal specimen from W Basset, Carn Brea, Cornwall, UK, is a genuine Cornish mineral carefully selected for its quality, locality importance and display appeal. The photograph provided shows the exact specimen you will receive. Please refer to the images for full sizing and scale details.

Your crystal includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming its genuine identity and documented Cornish provenance.

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Mineral Classification & Chemical Composition

Libethenite is a rare copper phosphate hydroxide mineral with the chemical formula Cu₂PO₄OH. It belongs to the phosphate mineral group and crystallises in the orthorhombic crystal system.

Mineral Name: Libethenite
Chemical Formula: Cu₂PO₄OH
Mineral Group: Phosphate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Hardness: 4 on the Mohs scale
Lustre: Vitreous to resinous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Libethenite typically forms small prismatic, tabular or equant crystals, often in clusters lining cavities or coating matrix surfaces. Its colour ranges from olive green and dark green to yellow-green or brownish-green depending on copper concentration and oxidation conditions.

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Geological Formation – Cornish Copper Mineralisation

W Basset, located near Carn Brea in Cornwall, forms part of one of Britain’s most historically significant copper mining districts. The mineralisation is closely associated with hydrothermal systems linked to the Cornubian granite batholith emplaced during the late Carboniferous to early Permian periods.

Libethenite is generally a secondary mineral formed in the oxidised zones of copper deposits. It develops through the alteration of primary copper minerals such as chalcopyrite and other copper sulfides. When phosphate-bearing fluids interact with copper-rich environments, libethenite precipitates within fractures, cavities and vugs.

The geological setting at W Basset includes:

• Granite-related hydrothermal veins

• Copper and tin mineralisation

• Oxidation zones within lodes

• Secondary phosphate mineral formation

Associated minerals in the area may include:

• Chalcopyrite

• Malachite

• Azurite

• Cuprite

• Quartz

• Cassiterite

This complex mineral assemblage reflects Cornwall’s long history as a world-renowned mining region.

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Crystal Characteristics & Notable Features

This Libethenite specimen may display:

• Small orthorhombic prismatic crystals

• Olive to deep green coloration

• Fine crystalline druses

• Natural matrix attachment

The colour is derived from copper content, and surface texture may range from glossy crystal faces to slightly resinous aggregates. In well-formed crystals, distinct crystal edges and terminations can be observed.

Minor inclusions or surface variation are natural aspects of formation within oxidation zones and contribute to the specimen’s authenticity and individuality.

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Collectibility & Cornish Mining Heritage

Libethenite from W Basset is highly desirable among collectors of British minerals and copper phosphates. Named localities in Cornwall carry strong provenance value due to the region’s global mining significance during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Collectors value Cornish Libethenite for:

• Recognised Carn Brea locality

• Secondary copper phosphate formation

• Distinctive green crystal colour

• Historic mining district association

Specimens from W Basset connect directly to the industrial and geological heritage of Cornwall’s copper mining era.

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Authenticity & Presentation

This Libethenite crystal has been carefully chosen to represent the quality and geological character of W Basset material. The image shown is of the exact specimen you will receive.

Included with your purchase is a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming this is a genuine Libethenite specimen from W Basset, Carn Brea, Cornwall, UK.

A rare example of Cornish copper phosphate mineralisation, this piece combines documented locality, geological significance and classic British mining heritage in one authentic collector specimen.