Chlorite & Quartz Natural Mineral Specimen | Clitters Mine, Cornwall

Chlorite & Quartz | Clitters Mine, Gunnislake, Cornwall

A beautiful natural mineral specimen from Clitters Mine in Gunnislake, Cornwall, featuring pale quartz crystals nestled within a textured, greenish chlorite-bearing matrix.

This piece displays a lovely contrast between the soft, translucent appearance of the quartz and the earthy green-grey tones of the surrounding rock. Its naturally irregular formation, delicate crystalline surfaces and subtle mineral colouration give it a wonderfully authentic character.

Part of the Harpo's Angels Cornish Collection, this specimen celebrates the geological diversity and historic mining heritage of Cornwall.

Specimen Description

Weighing 45g, this compact specimen features pale, milky to translucent quartz crystals emerging from a green-grey matrix.

The quartz displays angular crystal faces and natural fracture surfaces, with areas of soft peach and rusty-brown colouration. The surrounding chlorite-bearing material has a fine, slightly shimmering texture that contrasts beautifully with the larger quartz crystals.

Viewed from different angles, the specimen reveals a combination of crystalline growth, mineral layering and naturally weathered surfaces.

About the Minerals

Quartz

Quartz is a silicon dioxide mineral (SiO₂) and one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. It commonly forms in hydrothermal veins, where silica-rich fluids circulate through fractures and gradually deposit crystalline material.

Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7 and may occur as transparent, translucent or milky crystals depending on its formation conditions and internal inclusions.

Chlorite

Chlorite refers to a group of hydrated, magnesium- and iron-bearing silicate minerals, commonly recognised by their green colouration.

Chlorite minerals frequently occur in rocks affected by hydrothermal alteration or low-grade metamorphism. They may form as fine-grained coatings, aggregates or inclusions associated with quartz and other minerals.

In this specimen, the greenish matrix is consistent with chlorite-bearing material, although the precise mineral composition has not been independently analysed.

Mine History & Heritage

Clitters Mine, Gunnislake, Cornwall

Clitters Mine is associated with the historic mining landscape around Gunnislake in the Tamar Valley, an area with a long history of mineral extraction.

The wider Gunnislake and Calstock district formed part of Cornwall's important copper and tin mining industry. Mining activity in this region contributed to the development of local settlements, transport networks and industrial infrastructure during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Tamar Valley is recognised for its mining heritage, with parts of the historic landscape included within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mineral specimens associated with historic Cornish workings provide a tangible connection to the geological processes and industrial history that shaped the region.

Locality is recorded as Clitters Mine, Gunnislake, Cornwall, based on the specimen's supplied provenance. The precise extraction date, underground working and collection history have not been independently verified.

Intention & Chakras

Within traditional crystal practices, quartz is commonly associated with clarity, focus and the amplification of intention, while chlorite is often linked symbolically with grounding, renewal and connection to nature.

• Intention: Clarity, grounding and personal growth
• Chakras: Heart Chakra and Crown Chakra
• Element: Earth

These associations are drawn from crystal traditions and are not scientifically established properties.

Shape Symbolism

As a natural, unpolished mineral specimen, this piece retains its original irregular form and exposed crystalline surfaces.

Raw mineral formations are often appreciated as symbols of authenticity, natural growth and the beauty of the Earth in its unaltered state.

Specimen Details

• Minerals: Quartz with chlorite-bearing matrix
• Locality: Clitters Mine, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
• Formation: Natural mineral specimen
• Colour: Milky white, translucent pale pink, green-grey and earthy brown
• Weight: 45g
• Dimensions: 37.3mm × 30.5mm
• Finish: Natural, unpolished
• Quantity: One individual specimen
• Price: £15.00

Please note: You will receive the exact specimen photographed. Natural mineral specimens may display uneven surfaces, fractures, inclusions and variations in colour. These characteristics are part of their geological formation.

Photographic display props are not included.

Sources & References

• Mindat.org – Mineralogical and locality reference database. Search for Clitters Mine, Cornwall.
• British Geological Survey – Geological information about Cornwall and its mineral deposits.
• Cornish Mining World Heritage Site – History and heritage of Cornwall and West Devon's mining landscapes.
• Mindat – Quartz – Mineral properties and crystallography.