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A seven-year-old Rebel has shaken the world of geology after becoming the first person in more than a century to discover a chunk of an extremely rare mineral in North Cork.
Rockforest native Ben O’Driscoll was presented with a special plaque this week recognising him as the first person to find a piece of cotterite quartz in over 150 years. The award was presented on behalf of the National Museum of Ireland by its geology curator Dr Patrick Roycroft and retired UCC geology lecturer Dr Bettie Higgs at a ceremony held at University College Cork.
The mineral can only be found in a specific area of North Cork and was formed as a geological fluke that hasn’t been replicated anywhere else on Earth. All modern samples come from a single ore vein discovered in 1875 by another Rockforest native – Grace Elizabeth Cotter – from whom the quartz takes its name.
Unlike other kinds of quarts which are prized for their glassy sheen, cotterite has a distinct metallic look that looks almost silvery – despite a complete lack of metal in the material. There are currently some 34 samples of cotterite known to exist according to Dr Roycroft’s review in the Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, many of which are on display in museums around the world.
Dr Bettie Higgs, a former senior geology lecturer at UCC, said the “incredibly rare” discovery must have come from a larger, lost vein of cotterite in Rockforest that’s something of a “legend” in the area.
She said: “We know there’s a much larger sample around due to reports from around 150 years ago, but we don’t exactly know where the original vein is. The piece Ben found must have been turned loose when the field was plowed, and he picked it up afterwards.
“Quartz is formed by hydrothermal fluids deep in the earth that percolate through the rock and either dissolve, or precipitate out minerals through a crack or a fault. The section where this vein was made must have some special qualities that helped form it.
“It’s not fully known what these qualities are. It could be because the area is known for having warmer springs, but some think it could be to do with the red, iron-rich mud that’s often found there.”
The newest sample will be named after Ben and it was discovered by chance near the family home. The O’Driscoll children were aware of the legends around cotterite and back in February, on a whim, the seven-year-old picked up a stone in a plowed field that resembled the rare mineral. After taking it inside and giving it a closer look the family contacted geological experts who were able to verify the find.
This once-in-a-lifetime discovery delighted Ben who was beaming with pride while receiving his award at UCC this week. Between the discovery, the ceremony and the award that will be prominently displayed in the O’Driscoll family home these events will doubtlessly become fond memories for the curious young Rebel in the years to come.
