FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Philippe Durand]

Thank you Michael and Tobi :)

this specimen is now the centerpiece of my quartz collection

[Philippe Durand]

Quartz
It was very difficult to have a photo of this one (poor lighting, poor skills, poor background, and so on ... and totally water clear)

Please, can you clarify the exact locality.
I have Penas Blancas Mine in Santander Department
but Penas Blancas seems to be in Boyaca Department

It has many horizonal striations on the prism faces, and I would say it is Muzo habit.

[Fiebre Verde]

[Sante Celiberti]

Either Muzo or Tessin, a magnificent crystal.

[Firmo Espinar]

Hi Philippe.

I would bet on Peñas Blancas Mine.

I believe surely someone has confused the department.

[Bergur_E_Sigurdarson]

The way the crystal is broken at the bottom is typical of Peñas Blancas
(not from extraction, they are broken like that and encrusted in limonite and more, then treated with acid to get them clean)
I'd say that Belleza/La Playa area in Santander is a possibility as well, but most likely Peñas
...and as Firmo suggests, someone may have gotten confused with depts.

Peñas Blancas isn't technically a single mine but a whole mountain in Boyaca.
It has many small workings from quite low down though most are higher up.
Different areas produce different things, and the quartzes come mostly from some of the higher areas worked (as far as I know)...as do the fluorites from there.

[Philippe Durand]

Thank you a lot for your input Gérard, Bergur, Firmo, Sante :)
I had no doubt that our Colombia specialists could have the answer.
so if a gentle administrator could enter the Penas Blancas locality, it would be great :)

_______________________________

Done

[Philippe Durand]

A French classic

[Dany Mabillard]

[Philippe Durand]

thank you Dany
the specimen is better than on the photo (crystals going in front of the camera that I can not catch ...

it is a relatively new specimen (just a couple years ago)

[Philippe Durand]

Hematite:)

[Philippe Durand]

/:)

[Philippe Durand]

really from Nador, this time :)

[Philippe Durand]

:)

[Philippe Durand]

Merry Christmass:)

a garland for the Christmass tree :)