Olivenite on Blue Elvan | Wheal Phoenix Mine, Cornwall

A beautiful miniature Cornish mineral specimen featuring olive-green Olivenite on a pale, iron-stained host rock, supplied as Blue Elvan. Originating from the historic Wheal Phoenix Mine near Minions, this piece also carries the added interest of having belonged to the collection of William E. Birkett.

Specimen Description

This small but fascinating specimen displays patches of soft olive-green mineralisation across a contrasting cream and pale grey matrix. The green areas show intricate, radiating crystal textures, particularly noticeable under magnification.

Warm orange-brown iron staining runs through portions of the host rock, creating a striking contrast with the green Olivenite. The specimen retains its natural, irregular form, with exposed mineral surfaces and delicate crystalline detail.

Presented as a miniature collector's specimen, this is an interesting example of Cornwall's historic copper mineralisation.

About the Mineral | Olivenite

Olivenite is a copper arsenate mineral with the chemical formula Cu2(AsO4)(OH). It belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system and typically develops in the oxidised zones of copper deposits.

Its distinctive olive-green colouring is responsible for its name, although specimens may range from yellow-green to deep brownish-green.

Olivenite can form slender prismatic crystals, fibrous aggregates and radiating formations. It is a secondary mineral, developing when copper-bearing minerals undergo chemical alteration in the presence of arsenic-bearing solutions.

With a Mohs hardness of approximately 3, Olivenite is relatively delicate and is best preserved as a display or collection specimen.

Wheal Phoenix Mine | Cornish Mining History & Heritage

Wheal Phoenix is situated near Minions in the parish of Linkinhorne, within Cornwall's historic Caradon mining district, north of Liskeard.

The mine formed part of the Phoenix United mining complex, one of East Cornwall's most significant nineteenth-century copper and tin mining operations.

Mining development expanded during the 1830s and 1840s, with particularly rich copper deposits discovered in the early 1850s. Wheal Phoenix subsequently became one of Cornwall's major copper producers.

As copper production declined, the workings increasingly concentrated on tin during the 1860s. The Phoenix mines were notable for their closely associated copper and tin lodes, reflecting the complex mineralisation of the Caradon district.

Historical production records document approximately 84,538 tons of copper ore between 1848 and 1889, alongside 15,996 tons of tin ore between 1853 and 1898.

Wheal Phoenix is also a historically documented Olivenite locality. Nineteenth-century mineralogical publications recorded the mineral's occurrence here, adding particular significance to specimens attributed to these workings.

Today, the remains of the Phoenix mining complex form part of the wider industrial landscape surrounding Minions, preserving evidence of Cornwall's extensive mining heritage.

Intention & Associated Chakras

In traditional crystal practices, Olivenite is associated with personal growth, emotional balance and transformation.

Intentions: Growth, renewal, emotional balance and grounding.

Associated Chakras: Heart Chakra and Solar Plexus Chakra.

These associations are spiritual traditions rather than scientifically established mineral properties.

Specimen Details

• Mineral: Olivenite
• Host Rock: Supplied as Blue Elvan
• Mine: Wheal Phoenix Mine
• Locality: Minions, Linkinhorne, Liskeard, Cornwall, England
• Previous Collection: William E. Birkett
• Weight: 20g
• Measurements: Approximately 24.1mm x 33.5mm
• Formation: Natural mineral specimen
• Condition: Natural irregular surfaces with visible mineralisation
• Price: £14.00

Provenance note: The mine locality and previous collection attribution are supplied with the specimen. The exact collection date and extraction location within the mine are not documented. The Blue Elvan host-rock identification has not been independently verified.

Care: Olivenite contains arsenic within its mineral structure. Keep away from children and pets, avoid generating dust, do not immerse in water or use in crystal elixirs, and wash hands after handling.