Torbernite (Archduke Stefan Habsburg…Mined: 1800s)

Item Description

A remarkable old-time display specimen of Torbernite from the Old Gunnislake Mine in Cornwall, England with excellent pedigree. This full-sized miniature features a layered group of rich green colored platy crystals of Torbernite, measuring 2.6 cm long, flaring off the underlying matrix. The crystals are eye-visible, but look great under magnification. A great rarity from Cornwall, and a must have for any collection of U-minerals or specimens from this historic mining area in England.
The piece was pictured in Mineralogy of Uranium and Thorium (written by Bob Lauf), but please note that the book is not included with this listing.
From the collection of longtime mineral collector Dr. Bob Lauf (Collection #1929) with a label (and a specimen sticker) from Archduke Stephan Franz Victor von Habsburg-Lothringen, the famous Austrian mining director, engineer and life-long mineral collector (#149/18). Stefan's label refers to the piece by the name "Chalkolith", an archaic term for Torbernite. The specimen passed through a European museum by way of the Rumpff collection in the 1889.
Bob is the author of the Mineral Collectors Guide books (Schiffer Publishing), widely seen at mineral shows and libraries. He grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, ultimately receiving a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering. His scientific career included over twenty years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he conducted research on topics ranging from nuclear fuel, coal by-products, materials synthesis, microwave processing, sensors, optical materials, and biomineralization. He has been granted over forty U.S. Patents for his inventions, many of which have become successful industrial products. He is now a Registered Patent Agent and technology consultant.