Liroconite
Rarity
Discovery
Habit & Form
Descriptions
Locations
Cornish Minerals
Links
About us
Clinoclase Locations

Clinoclase was first found in Cornwall, and the type locality is the old Wheal Gorland mine where it frequently occurred with Liroconite, Olivenite and Chalcophyllite. 

Cornwall

Wheal Gorland and Wheal Muttrell, Gwennap (Type locality)

Clinoclase was first found in the old Wheal Gorland mine and can be found pictured in some of the prints of Phillip Rashleigh's collection (1797). In 1801 it was described from there as 'cupreous arsenate of iron'. It was later (1830) given the name Clinoclase by Breithaupt, with Wheal Gorland being the type locality. According to William Phillips, it was found in Wheal Gorland with Liroconite, Olivenite and Chalcophyllite, 'though not very abundantly'.  Count de Bournon, in the Transactions of the Royal Society, states that their chief source was the Muttrell Lode.  William Phillips indicates that the copper arsenates were particularly abundant towards the junction of the Muttrell lode with the Great Gossan lode. 

Wheal Unity, Gwennap

The Muttrell Lode of Wheal Gorland passes into Wheal Unity, and it is from this part of the Wheal Unity mine that Clinoclase and Liroconite chiefly came.  The dumps from this area of Wheal Unity adjoining Wheal Gorland yielded some excellent Clinoclase display specimens some 15 to 25 years ago. Even today it is still occasionally possible to find small specimens of Clinoclase on what remains of the dumps of Wheal Unity.

Ting Tang mine, Gwennap

In 1997 when the dumps next to Ting Tang mine's Morcom Shaft were excavated only a couple of Clinoclase specimens were recovered.  Some years ago the small mine dumps on the East side of the road from Morcom's Shaft were a source of Clinoclase, until they were removed.

Carharrack mine, Gwennap

Other mines in the Gwennap parish of Cornwall have also produced occasional specimens of Clinoclase when they were working including the Carharrack mine.

Clinoclase and Malachite - Carharrack mine, Gwennap, Cornwall, UK

Collected from the dumps before they were removed

Clinoclase - Bauden's shaft, Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall, UK

Collected by the late Maurice Grigg

Providence Mine, Lelant

Clinoclase has also been reported from the old Providence mine.

Wheal Hazard (Botallack), St. Just

Clinoclase has also been reported from the Wheal Hazard section of the famous Botallack mine.

Devon

Bedford United Mines, Tavistock

J.H.Collins stated in 1871 that Clinoclase had recently been found at the Bedford United mines.  Underground access is still open to some parts of this mine, and some good sprays of Clinoclase crystals were found some years ago in an old stope in the mine.

Clinoclase - Bedford United Mine, Tavistock, Devon, UK

Lustrous sharp dark blue-black crystals of Clinoclase to 3mm with a single green Olivenite crystal in their midst.

Other localities in the world

Argentina – San Francisco de los Andes, San Juan

Australia – Broken Hill; Mount Cobalt mine; Dome Rock mine; Ashburton Downs

Austria – Brixlegg Schwaz, Innsbruck

Czech Republic – Zalesi (Valdek), Jesenik

France – Osenbach; Ste Marie-aux-Mines; Johann mine; Salsigne mine; Rabejac; Anozel; Val d'Ajol; Cap Garonne mine

Germany – Konigswart mine; Haus Wurttemburg mine; Silberbrunnle mine; Clara mine; Point 16.1, Hohenstein; Mercur mine; Altvater samt Eschig mine; Sadisdarf

Hungary – Meleg Hill, Velence Mts.

Italy – Val Graveglia, Liguria

Namibia – Tsumeb mine

Slovak Republic – Lubietova (Libethen); Krizova Vein, Gelnica; Novoveska Huta

South Africa – Stavoren

USA – 79 mine, Arizona; Murdock mine, California; Antelope mine, California; Black Pine mine, Montana; Majuba Hill mine, Nevada; Sterling Hill mine, Franklin, New Jersey; Mogollon district, New Mexico; American Eagle mine, Centennial Eureka mine, Gold Chain mine, Mammoth mine, Big Indian mine, Gold Hill mine, Utah.

Copyright (C) 2003-2008 David Aubrey-Jones.  All rights reserved.  No part of this Web site and its contents may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.

[Liroconite] [Rarity] [Discovery] [Habit & Form] [Descriptions] [Locations] [Cornish Minerals] [Links] [About us]