Native Copper, Leaf-like

This curious specimen of Copper nearly in a pure state, and commonly called Native Copper, comes from Huelvor near Redruth in Cornwall, It is an excellent example of the manner in which the Copper was held in solution, and the solvent subsiding from it, leaving it in a state to explain the nature of the particles cohering, while supported by a sort of reciprocal gravity in the solvent, which allowed it to expand almost in distinct nuclei, by masses in the form of leaves, resembling vegetation, teaching us a beautiful lesson to explain the changes and formation of mineral substances^*. I do not know that the rhomb, perhaps primitive rhomb, of Copper has been before noticed; it seems in this instance to form into the octaëdron;—see the left hand figure. The other figure exhibits the two sides of the plates chiefly formed of rhombs, showing as it were the under view. We could not measure these with any certainty, as they are very much interrupted and irregular. We, however, think it very interesting. The octaëdron,—see the left hand figure—and the rhombs in its direction seem to agree with the Native Coppers, and partly modify into hexangular plates in these specimens, and consequently into double hexaëdral pyramids see, Vol. 1 tab. 25.

I have the pleasure to say that I possess a small sample of this very curious Copper Ore, by the favour of my kind friend Philip Rashleigh, Esq., marked by him from Treskerby, Cornwall.