Abstract: Precious and base metal selenide minerals have been identified in gold-bearing carbonate veins cutting Middle Devonian limestones of the Torquay Limestone Group at Hope's Nose, Torquay. The selenide assemblage consists of clausthalite (PbSe), tiemannite (HgSe), klockmannite (CuSe), umangite (Cu₃Se₂), tyrrellite (Cu,Co,Ni)₃Se₄, trustedtite (Ni₃Se₄), penroseite (NiSe₂), naumannite (Ag₂Se), eucairite (AgCuSe) and fischesserite (Ag₃AuSe₂), only clausthalite having previously been reported from Britain. They are associated with palladian gold, gold, hematite, and accessory pyrite and chalcopyrite in a gangue consisting predominantly of calcite; alteration products include cerussite, malachite, aragonite and goethite.

The relative abundance of Au, Ag, Hg and Se is a characteristic feature in the uppermost parts of some precious metal ‘epithermal’ systems. The occurrence at Hope's Nose is related to both structural and lithological factors: a deep-seated NW-SE structural lineament, the Lundy-Sticklepath-Lustleigh-Torquay fault; local thrusting, and to an association of basic-intermediate igneous rocks with a sedimentary sequence including carbonaceous shales and limestones. The mineralization is considered to be post-Variscan, probably Permo-Triassic in age.