This is called #luxullianite - a rare rock (globally if not locally), shiny pink orthoclase crystals embedded in dark tourmaline called schorl. Part of the massive granite backbone that forms #Cornwall. Orthoclase is not limited to earth, as it has also been found on Mars. Strictly speaking, not technically #fossicking as this sample came from Mousehole beach.

Another tiny #fossicking report from Nangiles mine, just off the Bissoe trail in Cornwall.

This place was mined for copper and tin from 1808 till the money ran out in 1991 - after which it flooded 50 million litres of toxic water into the Carnon River.

The rainwater here has etched little gulleys in the waste rock 'tailings' in this photo. This has the effect of partially arranging the waste into 'placer' deposits, sorting fragments by density.

#Cornwall #MineWaste

Another tiny #fossicking report from Nangiles mine, just off the Bissoe trail in Cornwall. This place was active from 1808 to 1991, when the money ran out - and it flooded 50 million litres of toxic water into the Carnon River #Cornwall #Minewaste

Chalcopyrite fossicked from mine waste at Great Wheal Charlotte in Cornwall. This is the main ore of copper, and so presumably the main "pay dirt" back in the 1800's. I thought the blue and red flecks might be a secondary mineral, but more likely to be the iridescence of the metallic chalcopyrite itself. This composite image was made by using Hugin software to stitch together images from a cheap USB microscope. #Cornwall #MineWaste #Chalcopyrite #Mineral #Fossicking

This might be Cassiterite, an n-type semiconductor ("fossicked" from mine waste from from Great Wheal Charlotte near St Agnes). It's the primary ore of Tin so it would fit the location, but I'm confused by the hexagonal crystal formations, as it should be tetragonal. It might be more Sphalerite like the last sample, but seems quite different. #Minerals #Semiconductors #Cornwall #MineWaste #Fossicking

Got a cheap USB microscope to look at some samples "fossicked" (gathered from mine waste) from Great Wheal Charlotte, closed in 1840, situated on the cliffs near St Agnes (https://www.mindat.org/loc-210320.html). Not sure, but my best guess is that this might be Sphalerite - a semiconductor (when pure) and zinc ore. This image is a mosaic as this (£25) microscope can only do 640x480 resolution otherwise. #Fossicking #Minerals #Gemstone #Cornwall #Semiconductors #Mining

Got a cheap USB microscope to look at some samples "fossicked" (gathered from mine waste) from Great Wheal Charlotte, closed in 1840, situated on the cliffs near St Agnes (https://www.mindat.org/loc-210320.html). Not sure, but my best guess is that this might be Sphalerite - a semiconductor (when pure) and zinc ore. This image is a mosaic as this (£25) microscope can only do 640x480 resolution otherwise. #Fossicking #Minerals #Gemstone #Cornwall #Semiconductors #Mining