Mineral Species: Connelite, Cu19SO4Cl4(OH)32.3H2O, Hydrated Copper Sulfate Chloride Hydroxide.

Mineral Notes: Connellite is one of the classic minerals of Cornwall. It is associated with other secondary copper minerals and rivals Azurite's colour. Connelite has a unique habit, somewhere between acicular and fibrous. Microcrystals are particularly beautiful as the small size does reduce the intensity of the colour.  Connellite is named after a Scottish chemist A. Connell.  When initially discovered in the 1790's at Wheal Gorland, the mineral was thought to be copper arsenate. It wasn't until the mid nineteenth century that connellite was properly identified as a copper sulfate.

Description: Two small matrix specimens covered by thin deposits of light blue Connelite. Magnification shows the distinct fibrous habit and vitrous lustre. Both were found together in the same piece of gangue material.

Location: Wheal Edward Mine, Cornwall, England.