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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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 Posted: Feb 22, 2013 12:43 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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While photographing some new pieces today, I was thinking where to go next now that I am finished posting pieces from Dal'negorsk. After photographing 3 specimens from Mexico that we acquired last week in Tucson, I thought why not show some specimens from the richly mineralized country on our southern border.
Mexico has a rich mining history that predates the Spanish conquest, and today, Mexico continues to be a major area for mineral exploration. Currently, Mexico is one of the world’s top metal producers ranking 2nd in silver production, 5th in lead, 6th in zinc, molybdenum, and cadmium, 8th in Baryte and manganese, 11th in gold, and 12th in copper. In 2010, there were 700 companies involved in mining and mineral exploration and the total value of mineral production was $13.9 billion. Certainly this can't be a bad thing for mineral collectors.
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Duftite-conichalcite series
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5 x 6.5 cm.
Light green botryoidal and micro-crystals associated with colorless calcite crystals on the typical gossan matrix. I acquired this piece from Jordi, and he indicated that the 3 pieces that he had tested each turned out to be duftite. |
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48357 Time(s) |
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Milarite on adularia
Valenciana Mine, Guanajuato, Mexico
4.5 x 5.7 x 8.8
Lustrous rhombic adularia crystals with small prismatic yellow milarite and and sparkly quartz crystals. |
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48372 Time(s) |
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Azurite
Los Olivos Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico
2.8 x 5.9 cm.
Dennis Beals, the proprietor of XTAL, had a small batch of these attractive azurites from a mine that I'd never heard of. The location is listed on Mindat along with a couple of azurite photos, so although the location is not entirely new, I'm hoping that the current batch represents good things to come from there in the future. |
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48399 Time(s) |
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GneissWare
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 1287
Location: California
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| Posted: Feb 22, 2013 13:07 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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| Excellent photos (and specimens)!
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Feb 23, 2013 12:17 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Thank you Bob. I enjoyed seeing your fluorite from Melchor Musquiz. The stepped growth and purple-tinged rims make these pieces very distinctive; I will post a similar piece later on.
Today's post includes some some older pieces from Mexico that have been in my collection for about 30 years. Two happen to be pseudomorphs which was the focus of my collecting efforts at one time. I'm still fascinated by the process that takes place during the transformation.
Michael
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Stibiconite ps. after stibnite
La Bufa Mine, Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
7.8 x 9.0 cm.
Prismatic crystals of stibnite replaced by yellowish-tan stibiconite on a quartz matrix. |
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48354 Time(s) |
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Goethite ps. after gypsum
Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
6.7 x 7.7 cm.
Black goethite forming perfect hollow epimorphs of gypsum crystals which are now gone. This piece is light as a feather. |
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48304 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Calcite
Buena Tiera Mine, Francisco Portillo, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
7.5 x 8.4 cm.
Lustrous calcite rhombs to 2.5 cm on edge colored reddish brown by iron oxides. |
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48276 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Feb 25, 2013 09:41 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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A trifecta of mimetites for today's post.
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Mimetite
Inglaterra Mine, Francisco Portillo, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
4.5 x 7.5 cm,
Lustrous, orange-brown mimetites that remind me of cauliflower. There are also some small white calcite rhombs on the base of the specimen. |
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48282 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Mimetite
Minerales Shaft, West Camp, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
6.0 x 7.4 cm.
A limonitic matrix encrusted with mimetite crystals to 5 mm. The crystals have yellow bases, with an intermediate brown zone, and have mustard yellow pyramidal terminations. |
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48227 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Mimetite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
8.5 x 10.5 cm.
Groups of yellow-green crystals to 3.0 mm coating a gossan matrix with minor calcite and wulfenite. |
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48240 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Mimetite (closeup of above specimen)
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
FOV = 6.0 cm. |
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48191 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Feb 27, 2013 11:04 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Continuing with Mexico today - a trio of wulfenites.
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Wulfenite
Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos District, Chihuahua, Mexico
5.0 x 6.8 cm.
Bright orange pseudocubic wulfenite crystals to 1.0 cm associated with drusy brown descloizite and white calcite. |
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48178 Time(s) |
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Wulfenite
San Juan Poniente vein, Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.8 x 8.6 cm.
A limonitic matrix covered by butterscotch-colored wulfenite crystals with a pyramidal habit. |
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48182 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Wulfenite
San Francisco Mine, 5th Level, Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico
5.3 x 6.4 cm.
Wafer-thin wulfenite crystals to 2.0 cm. hosting small botryoidal orange mimetite crystals and and bladed white Baryte. |
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48226 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 01, 2013 10:38 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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The three specimens that I selected for today's post are all from the San Antonio Mine in the Santa Eulalia District. This is apparently a very popular mine name in Mexico, as I counted 36 mines by this name in 15 Mexican states. There are 6 San Antonio Mines in the state of Chihuahua alone, so one needs to pay attention to the locality information given.
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Mimetite on calcite
San Antonio Mine, Santa Eulalia, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
5.8 x 6.9 cm.
Yellowish brown spheres of mimetite to 2 mm scattered over colorless to
to white calcite crystals on a limonite matrix. |
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48017 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Calcite
San Antonio Mine, Santa Eulalia, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
6.3 x 7.5 cm.
Sharp brown scalenohedral calcite crystals to 4 cm. on a colorless massive calcite matrix. |
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48093 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Smithsonite
San Antonio Mine, Santa Eulalia, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
5.0 x 7.5 cm.
Botryoidal smithsonite that could almost be mistaken for the Kelly Mine. |
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48089 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 04, 2013 13:03 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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You may want to cover your eyes Jordi. I am not opposed to including a few polished agates in my collection, especially if they are as pretty as the Laguna agate I am posting today.
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Chalcedony var. Laguna agate
Estacion Ojo Laguna, Chihuahua, Mexico
8.1 x 9.3 cm. |
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47948 Time(s) |
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Fluorite
Tule Mine, Melchor Musquiz, Coahuila, Mexico
5.9 x 7.8 cm.
Nearly colorless cubic fluorite crystals with pale purple zoned rims and pronounced stepped-growth on the cube faces. |
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48039 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Fluorapatite
Cerro de Mercado Mine, Victoria de Durango, Durango, Mexico
3.2 x 4.4 cm.
Loose yellow crystals from this deposit are relatively common, but nice matrix specimens with gemmy crystals are a bit harder to find. Collected in 2008. |
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47977 Time(s) |
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Don Lum
Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2919
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Mar 04, 2013 21:53 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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| crosstimber wrote: | | You may want to cover your eyes Jordi. I am not opposed to including a few polished agates in my collection, especially if they are as pretty as the Laguna agate I am posting today. |
Michael, that is a gorgeous Laguna agate.
Don
_________________
hogwild |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 05, 2013 10:15 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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| Thanks Don. It sure would be nice to go on a field trip to the ranch where those Laguna agates are found.
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 06, 2013 08:59 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Still sticking with the Mexico theme, but today I am switching thing up a bit and will post a few thumbnail size specimens, instead of the cabinet-sized pieces that comprise the majority of my collection.
| Description: |
Adamite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
2.2 x 2.8 cm. |
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| Viewed: |
47770 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Azurite
Millpilas Mine, Ciutaca, Mun. de Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico
2.3 x 2.6 cm. |
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47941 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Pyrargyrite
San Luis Mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico
2.2 x 2.3 cm |
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| Viewed: |
47763 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 08, 2013 09:56 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Today, a few more thumbnail-sized minerals from Mexico.
| Description: |
Wulfenite
Erupción Mine, Sierra de Los Lamentos, Chihuauhua, Mexico
2.3 x 2.8 cm.
A bright orange zoned wulfenite crystal on a white calcite matrix. |
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47377 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Silver
La Nevada Mine, Cerro San Antonio, Mun. de Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico
1.8 x 2.9 cm.
Spinel-twinned silver forming a herringbone pattern with remnant white calcite. |
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47343 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Malachite
Milpillas Mine, Ciutaca, Mun. de Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico
2.2 x 2.9 cm
Chatoyant malachite pseudomorphing azurite. |
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47348 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 10, 2013 15:14 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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These are the last few thumbnail pieces from Mexico that I have photographed. I guess I'll have to get busy with the camera.
| Description: |
Quartz var. amethyst
Piedra Parada, Mun. de Tatatila, Veracruz, Mexico
2.2 x 2.7 cm. |
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| Viewed: |
47100 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Acanthite
San Juan de Rayas Mine, Guanajuato, Mexico
2.1 x 2.4 cm. |
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| Viewed: |
47036 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Stephanite
San Luis Shaft, Level 630, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico
1.5 x 1.9 cm. |
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47031 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Topaz
Villa Garcia, Zacatecas, Mexico
2.5 x 2.7 cm. |
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47228 Time(s) |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 13, 2013 10:57 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Continuing with Mexico today, but no more thumbnails - back to small cabinet-sized specimens.
| Description: |
Pyrrhotite
El Potosi Mine, Mun. de Aquiles Serdan, Santa Eulalia Dist., Chihuahua, Mexico
5.0 x 6.5 cm.
Bright brassy metallic floater group of stacked pseudohexagonal crystals
to 4.0 cm with minor white quartz. |
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| Viewed: |
47004 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Adamite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.0 x 6.1 cm.
Turquoise blue cuprian adamite crystals to 0.6 cm in brown gossan matrix. Collected from #9 Lugar in 1988. |
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| Viewed: |
46962 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Fluorite
Gibraltar Mine, Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico
5.8 x 6.8 cm.
Colorless cuboctohedral fluorite crystals to 2.5 cm on a matrix of galena with accenting quartz crystals. Collected in December 2006. |
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46951 Time(s) |
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Pierre Joubert
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape
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| Posted: Mar 13, 2013 11:33 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Hi Michael; exellent specimens and photos. Viewing such as these, I have no need to visit Tuscon:-) :-)
_________________
Pierre Joubert
'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. ' |
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Michael Shaw
Site Admin
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 2250
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mar 15, 2013 09:39 Post subject: Re: Collection of Michael Shaw |
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Thank you very much Pierre. I'm very pleased that you are enjoying some of the minerals in my humble collection.
Today I will continue with Mexico, going back to the 1960s and 70s for these three pieces.
Michael
| Description: |
Adamite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
7.1 x 13.2 cm.
Lustrous yellow prismatic crystals of adamite with well-defined faces and edges on a brown gossan matrix. |
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| Viewed: |
46760 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Wulfenite
Aurora Mine, Cuchillo Parado, Mun. de Coyame, Chihuahua, Mexico
7.0 x 8.2 cm.
Brownish-orange pyramidal crystals to 6 mm lining cavities in gossan matrix. |
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| Viewed: |
46811 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Gypsum
Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico
5.5 x 9.5 cm.
Slender blades of transparent gypsum to 6.0 cm on a triangular plate of smaller crystals colored greenish brown by iron oxides. |
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| Viewed: |
46869 Time(s) |
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