Chalcanthite

Rio Tinto Mines, Minas de Riotinto, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain
Small Cabinet, 7.1 x 4.7 x 3.0 cm
Start Time: 07/13/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/20/2017 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

A cool specimen of lovely blue Chalcanthite from a mine that dates back to the Phoenician Period (1550 BC to 300 BC), which leads some to think this might be the oldest historic mine in the world. Rio Tinto is a huge sulfide deposit and was mined for iron and copper for centuries. The copper has obviously precipitated out of certain parts of the complex and redeposited in the form of copper sulfate or Chalcanthite. This is common in copper deposits around the world, but the Rio Tinto pieces are special because of the locality. Parallel growth "bands" of striated greenish-blue Chalcanthite can be seen nestled in the oxidized matrix. A cool old time piece that according to the label was collected in 1987.

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