FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Peter Megaw]

Luis has posted a couple of interesting recent pieces ( https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=15112#15112 ) from the Pachuca District to which I wanted to respond...so I started a Pachuca Thread. Pachuca is interesting in that until recently surpassed by Fresnillo it was the largest silver vein producer in Mexico...at over 1.5 billion ounces. In production since the mid-1500s it is remarkable how lilttle specimen material has survived...especially compared to Guanajuato which has closely parallel history of boom and bust and is well represented in collections worldwide.

The first specimen pictured below comes from the San Agustín Mine in the Reforma area, about mid-way between Pachuca and Real del Monte...probably from the Santa Gertrudis Vein.

Old label shows how little major scientific institutions think of specimens these days...not only was it sold off...but it had been relegated to the Reference Collection.

The last photo is a great shot of a great rock...more of these must have survived?

Love to see more if you all have them...

[Luis Domínguez]

That specimen of native silver is amazing! sueño con tener una de esas! :-)
I have more minerals from there but nothing compared with these.

greetings!

[Jordi Fabre]

To improve this thread I copy here the image of San Juan mine in Pachuca, Hidalgo, México, already published by Luis Dominguez here -> https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=15112#15112

Fascinating topic, hopefully it continues...

[Luis Domínguez]

Hi !
Here are some photos of San Juan mine, Pachuca-Real del Monte, Hidalgo, México.
I will also publish more photos of minerals of this locality in few days.
I hope you like it.

greetings

[Jordi Fabre]

I add two more images kindly supplied by Marco Antonio Hernández Badillo ( https://www.distritominero.com.mx )

[Wilson Bonilla]

Hi dear friends:

Very interesting and fantastic pics. Thanks for sharing us them.

WILSON

[James Catmur]

I am trying to tie this up with the mines and veins mentioned in the book 'Real del Monte, A British mining venture in Mexico' and cannot find an of the localities mentioned on the first specimen. I can find the La Rejona mine but not San Augustin or La Reforma. Is it the book that is missing these (as it is the history of the British period in Pachuca)?

James

[Peter Megaw]

James...a lot has happened in Pachuca since the Brits left, new mines and old mines renamed.

What hasn't changed is that the Cornish Pasty is alive and well in Pachuca...there are pasty stands all over the place!

[James Catmur]

Peter

I guessed that was the case, so thought I would ask. I might make it to Pachuca next spring, but am not certain if we will head that way as we have a lot to do during the trip. I do not remember the pasties, but the last time I was there was about 1972!

James

[Peter Megaw]

Pachuca has grown a LOT since 1972...mining and its traces have been reduced to an afterthought. really sad when you consider it is the third largest epithermal vein camp in the world

[disconeckted]

Amazing how primitive their mining methods still are.