cornish semiconductor corporation - User contributions [en]

Sounds

2026-10-11T05:44:23Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* SoundCloud tracks */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

A release of tracks from the [[ACE R&D project]]. Includes a live recording from the EOMN night at The Cornish Bank, Falmouth. Further developments of the [[Variscan Synthesis|Variscan Synth]] include a couple of chaotic circuits [[chaotic triangle]] and [[chaotic relaxation]], use of a [[Semiconductor history|1920s crystal radio]] (picking up broadcasts from a volca fm in the live track) and trying some new minerals like specularite.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

The first live performance using the full [[Variscan Synthesis]] rig. Included a 1920s crystal radio galena diode in the ladder filter, along with a lot of minerals and field recordings from Wheal Unity.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

A live recording and experiments with a diode ladder filter using some different natural semiconductors to make mineral acid techno. Made with a very early test of what became the [[Variscan Synthesis]] design. Digital and cassette release, the cassette came with a specimen of fluorite from Wheal Unity Wood, a selection of glossy photographs of microminerals I've found along with maps and circuit schematics.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

Made with the [[Crystal Log Synth]] and released in support of the Panzi Foundation, supporting victims of sexual violence in conflict mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an illegal exploitation that ends in our laptops and mobiie phones.

Some of the tracks were recorded on an abandoned mine, in the race control building of United Downs Raceway using a handful of chalcopyrite and galena found just outside.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor SoundCloud tracks]==

Lots of older tracks, including the first ones made are on SoundCloud.

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2191968347&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/dance-of-the-arsenides-lollingite-squarewaves" title="dance of the arsenides (penlee löllingite squarewaves)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">dance of the arsenides (penlee löllingite squarewaves)</a></div></html>

Sounds

2026-10-11T05:43:21Z

Cornish semiconductor:

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

A release of tracks from the [[ACE R&D project]]. Includes a live recording from the EOMN night at The Cornish Bank, Falmouth. Further developments of the [[Variscan Synthesis|Variscan Synth]] include a couple of chaotic circuits [[chaotic triangle]] and [[chaotic relaxation]], use of a [[Semiconductor history|1920s crystal radio]] (picking up broadcasts from a volca fm in the live track) and trying some new minerals like specularite.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

The first live performance using the full [[Variscan Synthesis]] rig. Included a 1920s crystal radio galena diode in the ladder filter, along with a lot of minerals and field recordings from Wheal Unity.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

A live recording and experiments with a diode ladder filter using some different natural semiconductors to make mineral acid techno. Made with a very early test of what became the [[Variscan Synthesis]] design. Digital and cassette release, the cassette came with a specimen of fluorite from Wheal Unity Wood, a selection of glossy photographs of microminerals I've found along with maps and circuit schematics.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

Made with the [[Crystal Log Synth]] and released in support of the Panzi Foundation, supporting victims of sexual violence in conflict mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an illegal exploitation that ends in our laptops and mobiie phones.

Some of the tracks were recorded on an abandoned mine, in the race control building of United Downs Raceway using a handful of chalcopyrite and galena found just outside.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==SoundCloud tracks==

Lots of older tracks, including the first ones made [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor posted on SoundCloud].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2191968347&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/dance-of-the-arsenides-lollingite-squarewaves" title="dance of the arsenides (penlee löllingite squarewaves)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">dance of the arsenides (penlee löllingite squarewaves)</a></div></html>

Sounds

2026-10-11T05:38:56Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Arsenic Labyrinth */

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-11T05:35:57Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - [[sounds|these sounds]] are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and [[sounds]]. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first containing new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:EOMNClose2.jpg]]

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[chaotic triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-11T05:34:46Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - [[sounds|these sounds]] are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and [[sounds]]. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first containing new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:EOMNClose2.jpg]]

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Chaotic triangle

2026-10-10T11:32:21Z

Cornish semiconductor: Created page with "500px TBD Licenced under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal ===Inputs=== * One connector for a crystal (in diode setup) via the on board connector. * Audio input disconnected. ===Controls=== * Pitch of oscillator 1 * Pitch of oscillator 2 ===Outputs=== * Audio signal ===Schematic=== File:ChaoticTriangleSchematic.png ===PCB layout=== File:ChaoticTrianglePcb.png ===Pages mentionin..."

[[File:ChaoticTrianglePic.jpg|right|500px]]

TBD

Licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]]

===Inputs===

* One connector for a crystal (in diode setup) via the on board connector.
* Audio input disconnected.

===Controls===

* Pitch of oscillator 1
* Pitch of oscillator 2

===Outputs===

* Audio signal

===Schematic===

[[File:ChaoticTriangleSchematic.png]]

===PCB layout===

[[File:ChaoticTrianglePcb.png]]

===Pages mentioning the chaotic triangle===

{{Special:WhatLinksHere/chaotic triangle}}

[[Category:ACE R&D]]
[[Category:Variscan]]

Sounds

2026-10-10T11:29:06Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Radyo kristal kernewek */

Sounds

2026-10-10T11:28:45Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Radyo kristal kernewek */

Sounds

2026-10-10T11:28:02Z

Cornish semiconductor:

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:52:00Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Radyo kristal kernewek */

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:47:37Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Live at Pattern Club Sheffield */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

The first live performance using the full [[Variscan Synthesis]] rig. Included a 1920s crystal radio galena diode in the ladder filter, along with a lot of minerals and field recordings from Wheal Unity.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

A live recording and experiments with a diode ladder filter using some different natural semiconductors to make mineral acid techno. Made with a very early test of what became the [[Variscan Synthesis]] design.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

Made with the [[Crystal Log Synth]] and released in support of the Panzi Foundation, supporting victims of sexual violence in conflict mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an illegal exploitation that ends in our laptops and mobiie phones.

Some of the tracks were recorded on an abandoned mine, in the race control building of United Downs Raceway using a handful of chalcopyrite and galena found just outside.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:46:06Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Arsenic Labyrinth */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

A live recording and experiments with a diode ladder filter using some different natural semiconductors to make mineral acid techno. Made with a very early test of what became the [[Variscan Synthesis]] design.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

Made with the [[Crystal Log Synth]] and released in support of the Panzi Foundation, supporting victims of sexual violence in conflict mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an illegal exploitation that ends in our laptops and mobiie phones.

Some of the tracks were recorded on an abandoned mine, in the race control building of United Downs Raceway using a handful of chalcopyrite and galena found just outside.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:43:52Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 220 below adit (techno from mine waste) */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

Made with the [[Crystal Log Synth]] and released in support of the Panzi Foundation, supporting victims of sexual violence in conflict mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an illegal exploitation that ends in our laptops and mobiie phones.

Some of the tracks were recorded on an abandoned mine, in the race control building of United Downs Raceway using a handful of chalcopyrite and galena found just outside.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:41:10Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Arsenic Labyrinth */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T10:40:56Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* Arsenic Labyrinth */

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:File:Tapes.jpg]]

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T07:00:12Z

Cornish semiconductor:

=Discography=

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

===2025===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Sounds

2026-10-10T06:59:41Z

Cornish semiconductor: Created page with "====Discography==== ===2026=== ==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]== <html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semicond..."

====Discography====

===2026===

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek Radyo kristal kernewek]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield Live at Pattern Club Sheffield]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2064236660/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth Arsenic Labyrinth]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

===2025==

==[https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste 220 below adit (techno from mine waste)]==

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2105542465/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/220-below-adit-techno-from-mine-waste">220 below adit (techno from mine waste) by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-10T06:49:12Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and [[sounds]]. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first containing new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:EOMNClose2.jpg]]

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Negative resistance

2026-10-09T20:09:27Z

Cornish semiconductor:

Negative resistance is when a device or material allows more current to flow as voltage across it is *decreased*, or vice versa, less current is passed with an *increase* in voltage. It's principle use to to create very high speed oscillators, in the microwave range.

Some natural semiconductors also seem to have this capability, Cornish [[arsenopyrite]] and [[wolframite]] seem to occasionally. In a curve plot it looks like a reverse loop, it's hard to capture as it's rare.

[[File:NegResCurve.jpg|500px]][[File:Test.jpg|400px]]

This is potentially some negative resistance on a sample of arsenopyrite from Wheal Fortune, Gwennap.

[Edit] From more recent tests, the trace above is more likely to be caused by capacitance - I'm not sure if the test signal used was a sawtooth or a sine (which would reduce this) but more testing is needed to be sure.

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png]][[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png]]

More convincing possible negative resistance from this natural [[Perikon diode]] of intergrown [[pyrite]] and [[galena]] from Ale & Cakes, extremely strange anyway - and needs more investigation.

ACE R&D project

2026-10-09T16:55:13Z

Cornish semiconductor:

==09/10/26==

Still processing the flat lode cassiterite - a big rock, and I now have a lot of chips with visible crystals, it just keeps going through the rock. I ordered some field's metal (£50 for 50g!) to try and make this material easier to use in a less toxic way than Wood's metal. It melts at 60 degrees, so the plan is to dip small specimens into it to provide the ohmic connection with as many isolated cassiterite crystals as possible. Perhaps mounting it in the 'new' vintage cat's whisker?

[[File:Main-s.jpg]]

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==03/10/26==

Getting release together for Radyo kristal kernewek

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end. All in all good feelings, have provisionally booked on another one in the new year.

Post gig todos:

* Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.
* Sort through Wheal Basset material
* Record more Great Flat Lode sounds
* Investigate chaotic relaxation at low frequencies for modulation with natural minerals.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

File:Main-s.jpg

2026-10-09T16:52:31Z

Cornish semiconductor:

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-09T16:26:46Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first containing new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:EOMNClose2.jpg]]

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

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== [[Old news]] ==

File:EOMNClose2.jpg

2026-10-09T16:25:17Z

Cornish semiconductor:

ACE R&D project

2026-10-03T15:57:55Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 03/10/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==03/10/26==

Getting release together for Radyo kristal kernewek

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end. All in all good feelings, have provisionally booked on another one in the new year.

Post gig todos:

* Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.
* Sort through Wheal Basset material
* Record more Great Flat Lode sounds
* Investigate chaotic relaxation at low frequencies for modulation with natural minerals.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-10-03T15:14:45Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==03/10/26==

Released some new music...

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end. All in all good feelings, have provisionally booked on another one in the new year.

Post gig todos:

* Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.
* Sort through Wheal Basset material
* Record more Great Flat Lode sounds
* Investigate chaotic relaxation at low frequencies for modulation with natural minerals.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-03T15:13:51Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first containing new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-10-03T15:13:22Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 03/10/26: Radyo kristal kernewek ==

A new release on [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek bandcamp] and [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/sets/radyokristalkernewek soundcloud], the first of new material gathered during the [[ACE R&D project]] after a summer of exploring new mine sites, searching for exotic new semiconducting minerals, making new circuits that work with them, and learning about cutting edge 1920s technology.

This collection (perhaps it's an EP?) also contains a live recording from the EOMN gig a couple of weeks ago, and some tracks that haven't made it on to an upcoming album, but escaped early.

<html><iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1287966412/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/radyo-kristal-kernewek">Radyo kristal kernewek by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe></html>

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductors come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:31:28Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end. All in all good feelings, have provisionally booked on another one in the new year.

Post gig todos:

* Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.
* Sort through Wheal Basset material
* Record more Great Flat Lode sounds
* Investigate chaotic relaxation at low frequencies for modulation with natural minerals.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:25:23Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end. All in all good feelings, have provisionally booked on another one in the new year.

Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:23:43Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low, and output too high), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:23:11Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low), inevitable enough with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too (monitors).
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:21:57Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Improvised arrangement less well
* Levels were wrong (too low), and difficult with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too.
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:21:09Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Levels were wrong (too low), and difficult with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too.
* Improvised arrangement was hard
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

Feeling the need to release some music, quite a backlog of tracks at the moment.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:16:53Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 24/09/26 */

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Levels were wrong (too low), and difficult with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too.
* Improvised arrangement was hard
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument
* Could really do with the close up projection

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-26T14:12:21Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[File:EOMN.jpg|400px|right]]

==24/09/26==

EOMN gig at the Cornish bank! Notes:

* Quick setup worked (in about 5 minutes)
* Last minute super large cat's whisker was improvement
* Decided to hand out rocks at the start, glad I did even though it was a bit unexpected
* Forgot to start room recording on phone, recording on mixer until part way through, or bg track!
* Sounds/minerals worked really well
* Levels were wrong (too low), and difficult with no sound check, volca mod was too low in the mix too.
* Improvised arrangement was hard
* New chaotic module was great, got quite into ambient/noise sections
* Two raw (well, via lp gate) squares good for ease of use, but a bit of a blunt instrument

Did actually manage to get a recording of most of it in the end.

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

File:EOMN.jpg

2026-09-26T14:05:16Z

Cornish semiconductor:

ACE R&D project

2026-09-22T22:05:25Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 04/09/26 */

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

[[File:Scondurrow-cassiterite.jpg]]

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-22T22:03:27Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 11/09/26 */

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Made video for instagram (ended up over 1K views)
* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-22T22:01:52Z

Cornish semiconductor:

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==11/09/26==

* Built second [[chaotic relaxation]] module.

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-22T22:00:28Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* 22/09/26 */

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules. Also 'pumps' the AM crystal background noise/field recording.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

ACE R&D project

2026-09-22T21:59:49Z

Cornish semiconductor:

==22/09/26==

More EOMN gig prep jamming the last few days. Settling on:

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder filter
* Square
* Chaotic relaxation -> Ladder filter
* Square

Pushing the compressor much more to reduce sudden jumps from the square modules.

Work still todo:

* Build a backup cat's whisker (make it much taller/visible)
* Sort out USB battery/light to make the crystals visible
* Test with mains on volca/mixer
* Put steel cats whiskers on one squarewave for pyrites (also more variation)

==09/09/26==

* Curve tracing SC cassiterite
* Quick jam in prep for gig (recorded)
* Nice recording using only South Condurrow chalcocite and cassiterite

A lot to update and do!

==06/09/26==

Photographing South Condurrow cassiterite

==04/09/26==

The [[Great Flat Lode exotic semiconductor field trip]] to:

* South Condurrow Mine
* East Wheal Grenville (too overgrown)
* Wheal Basset

Also milled a second chaotic circuit board

==25/08/26==

Recording DX7 ambience broadcast over AM to the crystal radio. Turns out a lot of harmonics are introduced, in the transmitter as much as the receiver. Using a galena crystal from Wheal Clinton, flushing. This will be used as a backing track for the next gig.

[[File:Broadcast.jpg]]

==24/08/26==

Afternoon building, testing and documenting the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator.

[[File:Chaotic-pic.jpg|500px]]

==23/08/26==

Couple of hours recording, mixing ewtowan samples with the more easy to use Ale & Cakes [[galena]] and Penstruthal [[chalcocite]]. Getting a bit more to grips with [[chaotic triangle]] again, super for bass. In minimal a gig setup, single volca and only 3 voices. Noticed quiet square this time was down to tiny adjustment in 1920's galena diode in the ladder filter.

[a&c gal] noise (w/wo ladder) -> <- tri [pen chal]
[ewt chalcop/py/etc] square -> ladder (xtal) ->

Quality of life fixes and improvements before gig:

* Sort cat's whiskers so the fit the bases properly - mount in threads somehow (raid B&Q plumbing)
* Connectors for cat's whiskers are still really bad, crimp mini-pv connectors. Can these be left connected to save time?
* Build [[chaotic relaxation]] module
* Incorporate new galena diode
* How to highlight crystals?
* Record dx7 patches through transmitter/xtal radio for backing track
* New field recording needed?

==22/08/26==

Milling a [[chaotic relaxation]] PCB in preparation for a performance at the end of next month.

[[File:Bcnc.jpg|500px]][[File:Freshcut.jpg|500px]]

==12/08/26==

Picked up another (extraordinarily cheap) cat's whisker on ebay, when you can get them as parts its much better. This one is not quite as crusty as it looks, but I'll try and give it a clean and sort out a mounting base for it as it should be useful for live performaces. The galena crystal has somehow survived the ravages of time, but I'm not quite sure how to remove it - it doesn't seem to be mounted in wood's metal, but it's attached mechanically.

[[File:Oldcatswhisker.jpg]]

==29/07/26==

[[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip|Bassett and Grylls]] material I collected not yet yielding any usable material, I tried out the [[hematite|specularite]] I found previously at this location with the [[chaotic relaxation]] oscillator. This circuit is pretty happy doing its thing with any semiconductor, it's going to be useful live I think. Modulated the voltage of one of the phase offset grounds, first with the variable voltage level of the shift register, then plugged straight into one of the registers (which totally kills oscillation when it's grounded I think).

A long day of recording a lot of material, pretty maximalist: the first time all four low pass gate inputs were used at once, used both volca modulars and the crystal radio diode with one of the ladder filters.

The first attempts were all Great Wheal Charlotte material and B&G specularite, then one with some old favourites (Ale & Cakes galena, keeping a GWC chalcopyrite?, the Penstruthal [[chalcocite]] + B&G spec). Then the last take was with all East Wheal Towan material + B&G spec.

Gates (1-4)

* Noise -> Amp -> Ladder
* Square -> Ladder (radio xtal)
* Chaotic triangle
* Chaotic relaxation (breadboard + specularite)

Started organising mixed tracks from previous sessions for a new album.

==22/07/26==

Long jam recorded trying out a new layout:

[[File:New-layout.jpg]]

Using entirely Great Wheal Charlotte material, [[arsenopyrite]], probably [[chalcopyrite]] (maybe pyrite). Started mixing into a new track. The breadboard contains the experimental chaotic relaxation oscillator - I didn't actually use it. Voices clockwise from top left:

* Noise source -> amp -> ladder filter (first time I've tried this combination, super low pass filtered crunches)
* Chaotic triangle wave (first time in the circuit off breadboard, bass!)
* Square wave (raw, no filtering other than the LPG)

==21/07/26==

The [[Bassett and Grylls exotic semiconductor field trip]], possibly found [[magnetite]] and tested previously found specularite [[hematite]]. To my surprise this form of hematite from this location is a semiconductor, while material from elsewhere is not. Also a positive result from [[magnetite]].

Edit: "magnetite" sample seems to be a piece of ferrous metal mixed with something crystalline - presumably slag or waste from industrial processes extracting ore? An interesting fragment, and not surprising a complex mix like this has a mild semiconducting property (similar to rusty razor blades) - but I will probably set it aside for now.

==14/07/26==

Decided to CNC cut the [[chaos triangle]] module, using some new expensive end mills from Germany, very nice cuts but broke 2 doing half the board. Went back to old ones to finish.

Short range AM transmitter arrived in the post, ended up listening to a few hours of 20s Jazz on the [[Junior crystal radio]]! I used a small powered Adafruit amplifier circuit driving a 8 ohm speaker. Tried the original galena crystal and one from Wheal Clinton, both worked well, and the range (a few tens of centimetres) seemed to increase gradually over time. I used a few metres of wire for the arial and no grounding on either the transmitter or crystal radio.

Started work on the variscan [[low pass gate]] PCB, fixing the reversed pins which were a mistake in the design. Managed to short the power and it damaged the battery connectors, not the actual circuit (which took over an hour to figure out).

==09/07/26==

Too hot to explore mine sites, mostly experimenting with new feedback ideas, prototyped a new [[chaotic relaxation]] circuit. The theory being that the nonlinear effects of these natural semiconductors can be compounded via feedback. Also arranging two East Wheal Towan tracks and documenting the [[squarewave]] module.

==06/07/26==

Uploaded [[chaotic triangle]]/Wheal Clinton galena/1920s radio video to instagram, and spent a few hours jamming and recording with exclusively East Wheal Towan samples using the [[Variscan Synthesis|variscan synth]] for the first time since the Sheffield gig. Native copper find was confirmed on mindat, so finished report on the [[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]].

==01/07/26==

Writing up yesterdays work and adding to the site. Managed to find some [[molybdenite]] in a bucket of material from Penlee beach, hoping I can get a [[Semiconductor curve traces|curve trace]] from one of these microscopic grains.

==30/06/26==

Spent a morning doing curve traces and an afternoon getting the new "Junior" crystal radio integrated into an experimental [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.

Discoveries:
* [[Wolframite]], is in fact not a semiconductor (or a conductor) at least not at the voltages I'm using, as it has extremely high resistance. Not sure if what I measured before was a mistake (perhaps a specimen coated in something else) or if it varies with specimens. But neither my (beautiful) sample from Wheal Fortune, nor the magnetically extracted detritus from a crushed Poldice mine specimen provided any results.
* Silver cat's whiskers are too conductive to work well with pyrite, chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite, but work really well with galena and quite well with chalcocite. This means, as expected - that minerals need matching with cat's whisker materials.
* The East Wheal Towans specimens seem strange, the galena seems different to galena elsewhere and the chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was very reluctant to work.
* The galena sample that came with the Junior radio is excellent, and the radio makes it easy to swap out different crystals.
* The chaotic triangle is capable of making very interesting sounds on it's own in combination with a crystal. Getting a PCB made for this is next on the list.

Adding [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]] everywhere before I start uploading loads of circuit diagrams etc.

==28/06/26==

Posted [[Razor blade diode]] video to instagram and got a zillion views and comments. It's good because it clearly shows the difference between two types of mineral.

==26/06/26==

[[East Wheal Towan exotic semiconductor field trip]] to East Wheal Towans, Great Wheal Charlotte and Nangiles mine. Specifically looking [[cuprite]] from Porthtowan area, and [[wolframite]] from Nangiles mine near Bissoe.

==25/06/26==

Release of live Sheffield recording (as a free download) on bandcamp, soundcloud and archive.org

Had a good morning doing R&D:

* Rebuilt crystal diode triangle voice on breadboard from the [[log synth]], added feedback to make it into a [[chaotic triangle]] circuit.
* Tried building a [[Razor blade diode]] and tested it in the triangle voice (made another video).
* Quickly tried a [[Perikon diode]] with some zincite purchased from Poland and [[chalcopyrite]] from Ale & Cakes Mine.

==14/06/26==

Live performance at Sheffield Pattern Club!

==13/06/26==

Tried again, and posted a 1920s crystal diode making noise video on instagram and had 200 likes and 7,848 views. This seems to be a good way of doing 'outreach' for this project at the moment.

==12/06/26==

Getting the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig working.

* Replaced all 0.1uF DC blocking capacitors to 1.0uF, removed unwanted low pass filtering.
* Using silver cat's whiskers after reading about galena point contact diodes.
* Added crystal radio diode, see [[semiconductor history]].
* Using new portable 6 channel mixer to replace 4 track recorder.
* Lots of rehersals and recordings made.

==03/06/26==

Received crystals, cat's whiskers and tins & posted them on instagram, video had 6,500 views which was a surprise!

==01/06/26==

Project announcement and added/working on [[semiconductor history]] and [[cat's whisker setups]] after questions on mastodon. A sizable proportion of the materials budget might be going on ebay purchases of crystal radio parts!

==30/05/26==

Starting a log here of the work done. The first entry is things I said I'd do so I can keep a check on it (chopped up from proposal)!

End up with unique sounds and electronic music created with instruments I will create designed to work with natural semiconductors collected from Cornish mine waste.

* The music itself will document the specific locations and history of the site the material comes from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens, stories we know of the site, its industrial heritage, etc.
* The instruments will be artworks in their own right
* I will use the time to research more interesting and complex musical potential.
* The aim will be to create instruments that focus on this that highlight raw materials using Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside the semiconducting minerals themselves.
* test these new sounds and prototype instruments in a live setting
* develop existing and new collaborations within this community and further afield
* The instruments would also be designed to be used by other people in future

All sounds, music and designs created will be published online as creative commons and open hardware for others to follow and provide feedback.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Project plan from proposal
! Start !! End !! Task
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 31/07/2026 || Researching history of semiconductor development from early 1900's
|-
| 02/05/2026 || 01/09/2026 || Researching mine history and searching mine sites for semiconducting material
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 30/10/2026 || Prototype instrument experiments based on research
|-
| 01/06/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Music making and test performances
|-
| 01/09/2026 || 31/10/2026 || Documentation, publishing recordings, blog posts
|}

I've started by [[semiconductor history|looking into the history of semiconductor usage]].

[[Category:ACE R&D]]

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-09-22T21:53:30Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* News */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth on the 24th September - Free entry ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductings come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-09-22T21:53:06Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* News */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth ==

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductings come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-09-22T21:52:46Z

Cornish semiconductor: /* News */

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 22/09/2026: Live at EOMN, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth ==

[[File:Eomn.jpg|right|300px]]

Back in Falmouth for the next gig, trialing the latest version of the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig with the new work on the [[chaotic relaxation]] and [[triangle]] modules, new minerals and including new sounds taken from crystal radio detection of AM transmissions.

This will be a challenging one, making it all work in a 15 minute setup time!

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductings come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

File:Eomn.jpg

2026-09-22T21:47:39Z

Cornish semiconductor:

Semiconductor curve traces

2026-09-12T22:24:59Z

Cornish semiconductor:

The curve trace plots you can see on this site are made with an oscilloscope and are the amount of current that a substance allows to flow through it across a range of voltages (from -2.5V to 2.5V) unless otherwise specified. Some of these traces of naturally grown minerals seem similar to silicon or germanium diodes that are made in factories as electronic components, but a lot of them are quite a lot stranger.

Curve plots only tell part of the story with these semiconductors, as they are 'snapshots' of their behavior, and do not provide information on noise characteristics or how the material 'flips' between different modes of conduction. Sonification is another approach, which is of course the broader purpose of this project!

==All curve plots==

{|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine)===

[[File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Galena-ale-cakes.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Galena-ale-cakes.png}}
|
===Pyrite (Carharrack Mine)===

[[File:Pyrite-carharrack.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Pyrite-carharrack.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-cassiterite.png}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-arsen.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-arsen.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (Ale & Cakes Mine) / Zincite (Poland) Perikon diode===

[[File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Löllingite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-lollingite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-lollingite.png}}
|
===Cuprite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (1920's Junior crystal radio)===

[[File:Junior-galena-silver.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Junior-galena-silver.png}}
|
===Galena (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ew-towan-galena.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ew-towan-galena.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly1.png}}
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly2.png}}
|
|+
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:Basset-grylls-spec.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Basset-grylls-spec.png}}
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:B&g-spec2-1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:B&g-spec2-1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Marcasite (Wheal Unity)===

[[File:Wunity-marcasite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunity-marcasite.png}}
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass2.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine) [sine wave]===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper)===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png}}
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png}}
|

|
|}

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-09-12T22:23:09Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[semiconductor curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductings come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Cornish semiconductor corporation

2026-09-12T22:22:48Z

Cornish semiconductor:

[[ File:Logo.png|300px|right]]

Making techno using naturally grown semiconductors fossicked from mine waste around Cornwall. Also providing workshops for kids (called [https://thentrythis.org/projects/organised-atoms Organised Atoms]).

In an age of harmful technological myths detached from the earth - these sounds are an attempt to reconnect with the dirt.

This site documents research with [[natural semiconductors]], new [[synths|synth designs]] and sounds. The technology used (tickling the surface of crystals with thin [[Cat's whisker setups|'cat's whisker' wires to create point contacts]]) comes from the [[semiconductor history|early days of radio]], when the newly discovered (and not really understood) properties of [[List of minerals tested|certain minerals to have a asymmetric response to electricity]] (now known as 'semiconducting') was used to convert radio signals into sound. Read more about [[inspiration|inspirations, references and linked work]]. Find out how to go about [[finding your own semiconductors]], or see [[curve traces]] of all the minerals tested so far from across Cornwall.

All hardware designs are licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]], everything else [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY SA]. Historical plans, maps, schematics and diagrams included I've tried to keep old enough to be outside of copyright.

----

== Recent changes ==

{{Special:RecentChanges|days=5}}

----

= News =

== 25/06/2026: New music: Live at Pattern Club Sheffield ==

A new release - a live recording of the gig earlier in the month. I used the [[Variscan Synthesis]] live rig for the first time - which is designed to be portable and easier to set up for gigs - in comparison to the [[Crystal Log Synth]] anyway. I've also swapped to sterling silver cats whiskers, which I *think* work better than steel or copper, but I need to do some proper tests as I haven't actually looked at any curve traces with them yet.

It also included the 1920s galena point contact diode in the circuit, probably quite close to where it was mined, so a sort of local guest collaborator along with all the Cornish minerals. This is responsible for most of the resonance going on. It took a while to 'tune' everything up, so I cut a bit of that from the start, but it also includes field recordings from Wheal Unity mine which cut through quite nicely at times.

* [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield bandcamp]
* [https://archive.org/details/cornish-semiconductor-corp-live-at-pattern-club-sheffield archive.org]
* [https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield soundcloud]

Thanks to all at [https://patternclub.org/sheffield/ Pattern Club Sheffield] this was their Sunday Experiments night, which had a really good feeling about it, with the other performers (Dundass and Ryan Treanor) also trying out new experimental things.

Some [[pattern club gig thoughts]].

<html><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2346431810&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor" title="cornish semiconductor corporation" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">cornish semiconductor corporation</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/cornish_semiconductor/live-at-pattern-club-sheffield" title="Live at Pattern Club Sheffield" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Live at Pattern Club Sheffield</a></div></html>

== 01/06/2026: Arts council funding ==

[[File:Lottery_Logo_Black_RGB.webp|800px|center]]

This project is now supported using public funding by an Arts Council England Research and Development grant. There will be a lot more updates to this site soon, these are some of the things in the proposal:

* Investigating Cornish mine sites - there are many thousands of abandoned mines in Cornwall each with their own histories and unique crystal material which has grown differently, all of which seem to create distinct sonic possibilities.
* Rediscovering the first electronic 'devices' (crystal radios) from the 1920's, which were much more obviously linked with the earth through their use of natural minerals to convert radio waves into sound.
* Developing new electronic instruments which can incorporate this pre-silicon semiconductor technology. The aim is to use Cornish granite, soldered copper pipes, and CNC milled copper circuit boards alongside natural semiconductors to use raw materials to embrace, rather than obfuscate the earthly roots of our technology.
* Record and release music to document specific locations and histories of the sites the semiconductings come from (who worked there e.g. the Bal Maidens and stories we know of the sites).

I'll be updating [[ACE R&D project|this page with ideas, plans and notes]] from this project and using [[:Category:ACE R&D]] for pages made in work from this funding.

== 14/06/2026: Live at Sheffield Pattern Club==

[[File:Live_at_Pattern_Club_Sheffield.png|300px|left]]

Time: 7pm-9pm, Sun 14th June 2026
Place: Sheffield Pattern Club, 2-4 Matilda St (next to EE/opposite popeys), Sheffield S1 4QD
Cost: £3/8/12 tickets
Dry bar: Soft drinks + alcohol free – please BYOB if you’d like to drink something else

Sunday evening experimentation hosted by Sheffield Pattern Club, showcasing unconventional ways of generating crackles, drones and kick drums.

Featuring:
* Rian Treanor – bringing handmade interfaces for participatory experiments
* Cornish Semiconductor Corporation – aka Dave Griffiths up from Cornwall. Dave will be exploring his handmade circuits, generating sounds using crystals that he’s ‘fossicked’ from mine waste.
* Dundass – Lyra haunting us with augmented textiles

[https://www.tickettailor.com/events/patternclub/2212197 Tickets here]

----

== 10/05/2026: Release: Arsenic Labyrinth & Live at Stones Drones & Noise ==

Limited Edition Cassette & MP3 [https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth release on bandcamp]

[[File:Title2.jpg|500px|right]]

[[File:Tapes.jpg|500px|right]]

Side A: arsenic labyrinth: arsenopyrite semiconductor square waves resonant filtered using chalcocite crystals, both fossicked from mine waste dumps at Wheal Prosper, St Hilary, Cornwall. Sequencing, modulation and rhythm sounds using a pair of second hand volca modulars. Circuits adapted for natural semiconductor use from Roland TB-303 style ladder design.

Wheal Prosper was originally part of Marazion Mines, and later (after 1860) Prosper United. From 1832-49 14,600 tons of copper ore were sold, worth £60,000. Minor sales of tin, arsenic and lead ore are also reported. Today (2026) the site is accessible via a public footpath and consists of many overgrown dumps, crisscrossed by tracks with one large area of exposed mine waste. Melanterite is abundant here, and blows about in the wind when you disturb the surface rock.

Side B: live at Stones Drones and Noise Club at Gwithti an Pystri, Falmouth, 28th Febuary 2026. During the performance the following Cornish semiconducting minerals were switched between: Square wave voice: ◇ chalcopyrite and galena from Ale & Cakes Mine, Gwennap, ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ cassiterite from Unity Wood Mine, Gwennap. Triangle wave voice ◇ chalcocite from Penstruthal mine, Lanner, ◇ arsenopyrite from Penlee beach, Newlyn. Noise voice: ◇ pyrite from Nangiles Mine. Distortion (see circuit diagram) on 4 track ambience: paired chalcopyrite crystals from Ale & Cakes Mine. Includes field recording fragments from Wheal Busy, Chacewater.

Thank you to Jessica Beechey and Steve Patterson for giving the world stones drones and noise, and recording and kindly providing the cassette of this performance.

The circuit board on front cover is the experimental natural semiconductor diode ladder filter used extensively on side a of the recording.

Recorded in Cornwall in 2026 by Dave Griffiths

<html>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=344039370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://cornish-semiconductor.bandcamp.com/album/arsenic-labyrinth">Arsenic Labyrinth by cornish semiconductor corporation</a></iframe>
</html>

== [[Old news]] ==

Semiconductor curve traces

2026-09-12T22:21:45Z

Cornish semiconductor:

The curve trace plots you can see on this site are made with an oscilloscope and are the amount of current that a substance allows to flow through it across a range of voltages (from -2.5V to 2.5V) unless otherwise specified. Curve plots only tell part of the story with these semiconductors, as they are 'snapshots' of their behavior, and do not provide information on noise characteristics or how the material 'flips' between different modes of conduction. Sonification is another approach, which is of course the broader purpose of this project!

==All curve plots==

{|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine)===

[[File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Galena-ale-cakes.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Galena-ale-cakes.png}}
|
===Pyrite (Carharrack Mine)===

[[File:Pyrite-carharrack.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Pyrite-carharrack.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-cassiterite.png}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-arsen.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-arsen.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (Ale & Cakes Mine) / Zincite (Poland) Perikon diode===

[[File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Löllingite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-lollingite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-lollingite.png}}
|
===Cuprite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (1920's Junior crystal radio)===

[[File:Junior-galena-silver.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Junior-galena-silver.png}}
|
===Galena (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ew-towan-galena.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ew-towan-galena.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly1.png}}
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly2.png}}
|
|+
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:Basset-grylls-spec.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Basset-grylls-spec.png}}
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:B&g-spec2-1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:B&g-spec2-1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Marcasite (Wheal Unity)===

[[File:Wunity-marcasite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunity-marcasite.png}}
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass2.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine) [sine wave]===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper)===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png}}
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png}}
|

|
|}

Semiconductor curve traces

2026-09-12T22:11:11Z

Cornish semiconductor:

The curve trace plots you can see on this site are made with an oscilloscope and are the amount of current that a substance allows to flow through it across a range of voltages (from -2.5V to 2.5V) unless otherwise specified. Curve plots only tell part of the story with these semiconductors, as they are 'snapshots' of their behavior, and do not provide information on noise characteristics or how the material 'flips' between different modes of conduction. Sonification is another approach, which is of course the purpose of this project.

==All curve plots==

{|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Arsenopyrite-penlee.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine)===

[[File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcocite-penstruthal.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Galena-ale-cakes.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Galena-ale-cakes.png}}
|
===Pyrite (Carharrack Mine)===

[[File:Pyrite-carharrack.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Pyrite-carharrack.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Cassitterite-wheal-unity-wood.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-prosper chalcocite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (Wheal Unity Wood, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-cassiterite.png}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Penlee Beach, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-arsen.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-arsen.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (Penstruthal Mine, razor cat's whisker)===

[[File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Razor-penstruthal chalcocite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (Ale & Cakes Mine) / Zincite (Poland) Perikon diode===

[[File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Chalcopyrite-zincite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-arsenopyrite.png}}
|
===Chalcopyrite (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ewtowan-chalcopyrite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Löllingite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-lollingite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-lollingite.png}}
|
===Cuprite (Wheal Unity Wood)===

[[File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunitywood-cuprite.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena (1920's Junior crystal radio)===

[[File:Junior-galena-silver.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Junior-galena-silver.png}}
|
===Galena (East Wheal Towan)===

[[File:Ew-towan-galena.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ew-towan-galena.png}}
|
|+
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite1.jpg}}
|
===Arsenopyrite (Great Wheal Charlotte)===

[[File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Gwcharlotte-arsenopyrite2.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly1.png}}
|
===Molybdenite (Penlee Beach)===

[[File:Penleeb-moly2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Penleeb-moly2.png}}
|
|+
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:Basset-grylls-spec.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Basset-grylls-spec.png}}
|
===Specularite (Basset & Grylls Mine)===

[[File:B&g-spec2-1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:B&g-spec2-1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Marcasite (Wheal Unity)===

[[File:Wunity-marcasite.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Wunity-marcasite.png}}
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass1.png}}
|
|+
|
===Cassiterite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Flatlode-cass2.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Flatlode-cass2.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine)===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.png}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (South Condurrow Mine) [sine wave]===

[[File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Scond-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper)===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-uptriangle.jpg}}
|
|+
|
===Chalcocite (wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-silver-sine.png}}
|
===Chalcocite (Wheal Prosper) [sine wave]===

[[File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Prosper-chalcocite-steel-sine.png}}
|
|+
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel1.png}}
|
===Galena/Pyrite 'Natural Perikon' (Ale & Cakes Mine)===

[[File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png]]
{{Special:WhatLinksHere/File:Ale+cakes-galenapyritemix-steel3.png}}
|

|
|}