Liroconite - Connary mine, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Liroconite : Cu2Al(AsO4)(OH)4·4H2O
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Copyright © National Museum of Ireland
minID: 7FK-LTF
Liroconite : Cu2Al(AsO4)(OH)4·4H2O
Copyright © National Museum of Ireland - This image is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Dimensions: 50 mm x 30 mm x 20 mm
Specimen label notes "Sulphate of copper (on quartz vein) resulting from the decomposition of copper pyrites from Connoree Mines, 60ft level. Presented by Mr Mahon Esq, Vale of Avoca, Wicklow".
Excerpt statement from the UCD collection curation team:
The 'chalcanthite' of the previous post isn't! It has all the hallmarks of being liroconite. The crystal habit (pseudotetragonal flattened octahedral bipyramids - see first photo) and the fact that it does not dissolve in luke warm water (second photo), plus the colour, all say 'liroconite', not chalcanthite. The labels on the specimen and the tray (see last three photos) all correlate [the first, oldest - likely early to mid 19thC - label reads "Sulphate of copper (on quartz vein) resulting from the decomposition of copper pyrites from Connoree Mines, 60ft level. Presented by Mr Mahon Esq, Vale of Avoca, Wicklow" and the label has been overwritten later with "Chalcanthite", this being used in a later separate label on early 20thC paper/card; and the number '383' is a now-lost catalogue number, but it does correlate between specimen and labels and there are no other 383s to be seen in the collection - thus far!].
But we still have work to do! Compare the nature (paragenesis) of this specimen with material from Avoca and from Cornwall, which is where most liroconite comes from. Compare the UCD specimen with old specimens of Avoca 'chalcanthite' that are in the National Museum of Ireland (excepting modern material from Stephen Moreton, who knows his mineralogical onions). Doing a basic chemical analysis (just for confirmation - the crystal shape etc are very diagnostic).
As I write, there are two possibilities: first, this is the first occurrence of liroconite from Ireland; second, this is a Cornwall specimen that perhaps Mr Mahon used to 'enhance' the evidence of copper from Connoree mines. However, there are plenty of copper minerals in the area, so why fraudulently import a rare specimen and pass it off as from the Avoca area? Liroconite contains arsenic, whereas chalcanthite does not, and there are, in fact, old reports of arsenic from Connoree, even if this element mostly absent from surrounding areas, which would support a local origin. At the moment, we just can't say which scenario is correct. But it will be thrilling to find out!
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