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Antonio Da Silveira

Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Artigas


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Posted: Oct 23, 2007 13:04 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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Works are concentrated in the "Zapata" as we said earlier, bottom or base of the piece.
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Antonio Da Silveira

Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Artigas


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Posted: Oct 23, 2007 13:13 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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End of a hard day´s work at the mine and with the assurance that the work will meet step by step as scheduled.
Continue ....
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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Apr 01, 2008 17:26 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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With the permission of the owners of the quarry where the giant amethyst geode was mined we publish the texts and photos of their last efforts to bring to the sunlight this wonderful "monster".
After a brief holiday we restart activities in the Mine as it was planned. We began with the work of digging in "Monster", removing the basalt, in order to let more space. It is estimated that his current weight is 15,000 kg. Mauro and Jose Luis were the sculptors of the company.
After a long period, everything is scheduled for Monday March 10th to begin transporting geode outside the tunnel. We are all very anxious, Cato and Omar have worked hard to design and construct the means of transport that will be used to move it.
There, at the Santiño Mine we take images of long-awaited moment, and share it with all of you.
We started to work to bring to light the large geode, every care is poor.
The big digger machine "Mingula" worked all morning to fill the way with basalt between the base of the geode and floor, and also the route to the exterior of the tunnel to allow sliding of the "sled" made in the workshop of the Company.
Basically the operation was extract the heavy piece of amethyst inside the tunnel about 120 meters length. To lift the geode they used hydraulic jacks to be able to introduce steel bars under the heavy piece in order to make easy their travel to the steel structure built for drag abroad.
Finally we have the geode outside the mine.
The truck arrived with the geode to our headquarter where received handmade treatment by a group of officials: sculptors, cutters, polishers etc..
Net Weight ......... Kg. 14,750 !!!
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Preparing the geode to be loaded |
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Ready to be delivered to the sunlight |
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On the truck it was bigger than expected |
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The 14500Kg geode on the truck |
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robynahawk
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 94
Location: Orange County, CA


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Posted: Apr 01, 2008 17:55 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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Fabulous write up! bring on more! I am always up for some cyber-rockhounding!!!!
Robyn Hawk
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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Apr 02, 2008 04:36 Post subject: More photos of the giant amethyst geode works |
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Hi Robyn,
Really incredible geode works. Herewith attached more photos from the Geode works. We want to thank to Antonio da Silveira and friends, just to let us enjoy this adventure.
Enjoy them!!!
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Outside, the buldozer is conditioned to be able to smoothly enter into the tunnel. |
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After a long day of work, it was found that the basalt that covers the geode is extremely hard, geode close to the ceiling and suspended in the caliper more difficult than expected, as it is completely detached from the walls of the tunnel is determined the work suspension on security grounds, leading to the next stage. In the workshops of the company we are working with Cato and Omar "designing" the means of transport to carry the "Monster "outside. |
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We need light to see inside the vug and to work in the area. |
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Taking a look inside the vug. |
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Sr. Rodolfo Dos Santos, the best minning technician. |
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Licenciado Pirelly, taking a view of the Geode. They enjoy a lot the finding and approve of work systems. |
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Some of these photographs where you can see a group of visitors, some of them are officers of the company but most are specialized officers of the state what prompted by the interest which resulted in finding went to the mine to meet their natural interest and what is related to their specialties. Some are officials, geologists and engineers of the National Environment Historical and Cultural Heritage. |
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We have a free part supported by wooden wedges. |
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Mina Santiño-ARTIGAS-URUGUAY |
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SERGIO MEDEIROS, our expert in blasting. The blastingman of Santiño |
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Continuing with the extraction works of this monumental Amethyst Geode, in our "Santiño” Mine. Photographs of the Geode ready to be free from its basaltic rock base. |
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_________________ Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Apr 02, 2008 04:50 Post subject: Last photos of the giant amethyst geode works |
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More photos of the last phase of the extraction of the "monster" and their transport to the store.
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Antonio da Silveira celebrating the final extraction works...now it is necessary to transport it. |
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All of our heavy equipment are so large that this operation must use much imagination to mobilize without compromising its integrity |
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The Geode on the top of Santiño hill. |
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The geode is 100% safe!!! |
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The truck, the Geode ready. |
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_________________ Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Apr 28, 2008 05:49 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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After a comment from a Spanish forum's partner about the possible use of geological radar detection technologies, Antonio da Silveira confirmed that geologists from the Mining and Geology National Department of Uruguay had been visiting the region where they would like to use this technique.
In Antonio own words: -We are waiting anxiously as it will be a big step for our mining
Photos of the current Geode in its final stage:
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Excellent Amethyst quality A. |
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Light crossing the big Amethyst vug. |
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_________________ Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Antonio Da Silveira

Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Artigas


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Posted: Jul 16, 2008 17:19 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant amethyst geode |
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" FINISHED WORK "
Best Regards
Antonio
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Santiño Mine - Artigas, Uruguay |
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Santiño Mine - Artigas, Uruguay |
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Santiño Mine- Artigas, Uruguay |
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Goldfinger
Joined: 22 Oct 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Missouri


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Posted: Oct 22, 2010 16:46 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant Amethyst geode |
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Can someone provide pictures of the saw used to cut these geodes? I have never seen such huge geodes, much less seeing how they are cut.
Thanks
Steve
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Antonio Da Silveira

Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Artigas


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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5027
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Oct 23, 2010 04:20 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant Amethyst geode |
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Is something wrong in your link Antonio, it seems don't have images....
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Goldfinger
Joined: 22 Oct 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Missouri


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Posted: Oct 23, 2010 06:03 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant Amethyst geode |
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Antonio-
I can't see the pictures in your links either.
Steve
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Antonio Da Silveira

Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Artigas


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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5027
Location: Barcelona



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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5027
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Oct 23, 2010 10:18 Post subject: Re: Join us to dig a giant Amethyst geode |
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Funny, we crossed messages! ;-)
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