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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 10, 2021 14:34 Post subject: The Tale of Barroca Grande - Silvia's Collection |
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Brief Discussion on the Barroca Grande Site
The Barroca Grande site includes the underground mine and portals, processing plant, mine offices and employee housing in addition to the active tailings disposal areas, and the Salgueira water treatment plant.
The underground jaw crusher situated below level 520 mRL in the mine delivers material no larger than 100mm in diameter (Run-of-Mine - ROM), to the Crushing, Washing and Screening (CWS) plant at a rate of about 160 ton per hour. After processing in the CWS plant, material greater than 0.8mm in diameter is fed to the Heavy Media Separation (HMS) plant. The material sent to the HMS plant accounts for approximately 80% of the original ore feed from the ROM.
Approximately 20 per cent of the original ore feed from the CWS plant is in the form of ‘fines’ and passes on to the sand and slimes shaking tables. Rejected material is either dumped as waste or sold as gravel.
Concentrate from the HMS plant is crushed in twin roll crushers. One of the roll crushers is dedicated to material 3 – 5 mm in diameter and this material is re-circulated to the HMS plant. Material less than 3 mm in diameter is hydrosized prior to concentration by gravity shaking tables. Gangue minerals, particularly quartz and other silicates are eliminated in this process. The sand tables’ concentrate, referred to as Pre-Concentrate, contains all the dense minerals, including Ferberite, Sulphides, Cassiterite and Siderite.
The pre-concentrate containing Ferberite, Sulphides, Cassiterite and Siderite are then screened into two fractions. The two fractions are passed over individual shaking tables. Sulphides are removed by flotation. The sulphides recovered then become feed for a copper circuit. The table concentrates, without sulphides, are dried and screened to prepare three sized fractions for dry high-intensity cross-belt magnetic separators. This produces a high grade Ferberite concentrate, and a non-magnetic cassiterite concentrate. The Cassiterite concentrate then goes to the Tin circuit for processing.
Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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An aerial photo of the main Barroca Grande site |
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Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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A mine plan my partner made to highlight the processing of ore at Barroca Grande |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Another View of Barroca Grande |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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The ore body within the Hills in the background are the source of all my minerals |
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A photo of the now disused Barroca Grande Mine entrance - approximately 1990. |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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The main Ore processing facilities |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Another View of the ore processing facilities |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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16041 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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16050 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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How many wonderful Ferberite crystals are but concentrate in these 1 tonne bags? |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 10, 2021 15:30 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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And Cassiterite too.
Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
Many a fine Cassiterite lies in these bags! |
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
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Posted: Nov 11, 2021 04:37 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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Very informative, Silvia, thank you!
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James Catmur
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1345
Location: Cambridge
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Posted: Nov 11, 2021 12:31 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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Obrigado
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 11, 2021 19:36 Post subject: Fluoroapatite - Silvia's Collection |
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Beautiful green translucent lustrous crystals of Fluorapatite to 2 cm in size on a matrix of lustrous black crystallized Sphalerite with yellow crystals of Siderite to 2 cm. Chalcopyrite and Muscovite present, and perhaps minor Fluorite. The Fluorapatite crystals exhibit a bright orange fluorescence under UVA light.
Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Sphalerite, Siderite, Chalcopyrite, Muscovite, Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 12 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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15109 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite, Muscovite, Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 12 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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15073 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Sphalerite, Muscovite, Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 12 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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15072 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 12 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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15093 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 12 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm |
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15095 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 11, 2021 20:10 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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Tobi wrote: | Very informative, Silvia, thank you! |
Many Thanks.
My partner and I are very keen on the mines too. Whenever possible we like to collect as much information as we can about the mine – its geology, development history, extraction methods and mining methods. I think this adds another dimension to a mineral collection, and it certainly makes us appreciate the minerals the mine produces.
In our opinion Panasqueira is one of the world’s great mines. In terms of mineral diversity there are few places that even come close to Panasqueira. I can only think of two that also display great mineral diversity – Broken Hill in Australia and Tsumeb in Africa. No doubt other collectors will add to the list.
In term of producing world class Ferberite and Fluorapatite specimens, Panasqueira has no equal.
We also have some very fine specimens from the mines of Romania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Peru and Bolivia.
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 11, 2021 20:11 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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James Catmur wrote: | Obrigado |
You are most welcome.
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 14, 2021 22:41 Post subject: Marcasite - Silvia's Collection |
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Bright golden crystals of Marcasite to almost 2.0 cm in size stacked aesthetically on a matrix with Arsenopyrite, Calcite-Dolomite and crystallized Muscovite.
Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Calcite-Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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14892 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Calcite-Dolomite, Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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14889 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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14922 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14899 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Calcite-Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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14889 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Calcite-Dolomite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm |
Description: |
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14909 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 16, 2021 20:12 Post subject: Fluorapatite on Muscovite - Silvia's Collection |
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The specimen contains green tabular Fluorapatite crystals to 25 mm in size on a matrix of highly brilliant micro Muscovite crystals. A very pretty specimen!
The Fluorapatite crystals display bright orange fluorescence in the presence of UVA light.
Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14762 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
rear view. Some small Fluorapatite, but mostly Muscovite |
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14768 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14752 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14754 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14758 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14763 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14746 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14738 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 11 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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14735 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 19, 2021 15:22 Post subject: The Story of Barroca Grande - Silvia's Collection |
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MINE WASTE
The Barroca Grande Waste Dump lies directly above the Bodelhão Creek that flows south-easterly to the Rio Zêzere. Gravel, waste rock and sand tails are the main mine byproducts dumped at the site. Fine tails present the most challenging problems as they contain precipitate from Salgueira Water Treatment facility as well as the copper circuit tailings which contain up to 25% arsenic.
The old tailings TMF-1 area contains tailings deposited prior to 1985. The perimeter of this dam is approximately 750 metres for a total area of 35,000m2 area. The maximum depth is 50 metres at an elevation of about 600mRL. The mine operators are keen to re-process these tailings.
There are two other Fine Tailings Disposal Areas at the site designated TMF-2A which is now full, and a new disposal area designated as TMF-2B.
Fine tailings dam TMF-2A has been active since about 1998. At the end of 2013 it had a 1km perimeter for a total area of 69,000m2. Maximum depth was 50 metres at an elevation of 700mRL with a capacity of about 1,545,000m3. This is equivalent to about 3,347Kt of material. This dam, apart from sand and slimes, also received sludge from the water treatment plant, as well as the copper circuit tailings containing up to 25% of arsenic.
The fine tailings dam TMF-2B became active in 2019. It has a 1.6 kilometer perimeter for a total area of 135,000m2. It has a maximum depth of 70m with a maximum volume capacity of about 1,800,000m3.
Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
An aerial view of the waste disposal area at the mine. |
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14598 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
View of the dumps from Aldeia De Sao Francisco De Assis |
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14587 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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14620 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
Looking towards Barroca Grande |
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14598 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
A view of the new disposal area designated as TMF-2B. |
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14596 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Description: |
Truck being loaded with gravel for dumping. |
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14620 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Description: |
Truck on its way to the dumps. Note Bodelhão Creek in the background. |
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14601 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Description: |
Truck about to deposit gravel at the dumps. |
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14593 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
Truck having unloaded all its gravel. |
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14588 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
Looking east across the dumps. |
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14579 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
Looking down one of the dumps. |
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14589 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
The road back to the mill. to the right is the new tailings disposal area - TMF2B |
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14577 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 21, 2021 14:41 Post subject: Cassiterite - Silvia's Collection |
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The specimen contains black crystals of Cassiterite to 15 mm on a matrix with golden crystallized Pyrite, Arsenopyrite and Siderite
Mineral: | Cassiterite, Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14448 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
Detail of the Cassiterite |
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14429 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
Detail of the Cassiterite |
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14439 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
Detail of the Arsenopyrite |
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14445 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
Detail of the Arsenopyrite |
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14447 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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14470 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Pyrite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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14431 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 23, 2021 18:02 Post subject: Panasqueira under the Microscope – Silvia’s collection |
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Panasqueira under the Microscope – Silvia’s collection
My partner organized a preliminary analysis of a sample of the suspected chlorite that coats many of the Quartz points of a specimen of Quartz with Arsenopyrite that I uploaded to my collections page.
Preliminary analysis indicates that the green spherical crystals that coat many of the Quartz points on the specimen in our collection are Clinochlore. Three samples were sent for analysis, and the sample used in the analysis is shown in the photo of the XRD.
We have asked for a complete elemental analysis to be conducted on the remaining crystals, and I will post the results when available.
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14312 Time(s) |
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Sante Celiberti
Joined: 04 Oct 2019
Posts: 699
Location: Tuscany
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Posted: Nov 24, 2021 05:03 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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Hello, Mrs. Silvia.
Yes, almost certainly Chlorite Group.
I have a similar specimen somewhere labeled as Chlorite Group.
As you know, Clinochlore also is mentioned in Panasqueira.
I appreciate this opportunity to compliment your magnificent locality collection.
My best regards.
Sante
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 24, 2021 14:48 Post subject: Re: Silvia's Collection |
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Sante Celiberti wrote: | Hello, Mrs. Silvia.
Yes, almost certainly Chlorite Group.
I have a similar specimen somewhere labeled as Chlorite Group.
As you know, Clinochlore also is mentioned in Panasqueira.
I appreciate this opportunity to compliment your magnificent locality collection.
My best regards.
Sante |
Many thanks for your kind words. Panasqueira is just a wonderful locality for collector quality minerals. There are many mining regions that offer a wide range of minerals, but there are very few that offer a diversity of minerals from a single mine. This is why Panasqueira is so unique. Of course I could be biased. :)
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 24, 2021 15:05 Post subject: Siderite and Fluorite - Silvia's Collection |
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A cluster of Siderite crystals the prominent crystal being 5 cm wide. This is set in a cluster with crystallized Ferberite and Arsenopyrite, pale purple translucent crystals of Fluorite to 5 mm on edge across the front of the main Siderite crystal cluster.
Mineral: | Siderite, Fluorite, Ferberite, Arsenopyrite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14175 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Fluorite, Ferberite, Arsenopyrite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14194 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Fluorite, Ferberite, Arsenopyrite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14181 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Ferberite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14190 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Fluorite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14192 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Fluorite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14194 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 26, 2021 17:19 Post subject: A brief introduction to The Rio Site at Cabeco do Piao - Silvia's Collection |
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A brief introduction to The Rio Site at Cabeco do Piao
The Rio site contains the old mill, and a large coarse waste dump. Situated on top of the waste dump is a dried up tailings pond varying in depth from 25 to 70 metres. The dump contains coarse waste rock with minor amounts of pyrite and arsenopyrite, fine grained mill tailings, and a pile of arsenopyrite flotation tails. Estimates indicate that the total weight of the pile at Rio exceeds 8 million tonnes of material.
Until, March 21, 2006 Beralt (Tin and Tungsten Ltd) was legally responsible for the Rio site. On March 21, 2006, the Portuguese government signed an agreement that removed the site, and all associated environmental liabilities from the Beralt mining concession.
In 1904, a mechanized Mill was built in Cabeço do Pião, and historical records indicate that the disposal of mine waste at the Rio site started sometime between 1905 and 1910, and finished in 1996. In 1998 all milling operations ceased at the Rio site.
The original Mill at Cabeco do Piao was situated on a terraced slope on the left bank of the river Zezere some five kilometres west of the main mine at Barroca Grande. In 1912, an aerial cable (5100 m) was installed between Barroca Grande and Cabeco do Piao. For many years, the Rio Mill was supplied with hand-picked ore from the hand-picking plant at Barroca Grande via a rope way. In the early years of operation, cheap labour made it profitable to separate good ore from waste rock, and the only skills a good worker needed were physical strength, good eyesight and fast reflexes. Improvements in mechanization made the hand-picking plant redundant.
The Rio mill contained a Crushing and Grinding plant, a Gravity Treatment plant, a Flotation plant and an Electromagnetic Separation plant. The plant also contained well-equipped Mechanical and Electrical Workshops for the day-to-day maintenance of the plant.
Though the mill received power from a commercial power station some twenty kilometres away, it was also equipped with its own diesel-electric plant capable of supplying 1200 KVA output to meet all emergency needs at the mill.
FUTURE
There is an ongoing effort to use the waste rock to produce road construction materials.
There is also ongoing interest to turn the old facility at Rio into a tourist attraction. Some of the now abandoned facilities at the Rio site will be rebuilt to establish an interpretive mining Museum.
Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14003 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14006 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
14029 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14043 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14001 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14015 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14016 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
13999 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14007 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14004 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14022 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14006 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14027 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14017 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | _ |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Description: |
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Viewed: |
14014 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Nov 28, 2021 14:35 Post subject: Fluorapatite - Silvia's Collection |
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Glassy partly gemmy green color zoned tabular crystals of Fluorapatite to 2 cm in size with crystallized Quartz and Arsenopyrite.
The Fluorapatite crystals display bright orange fluorescence in the presence of UVA light.
Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Quartz, Muscovite, Arsenopyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 8 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm |
Description: |
green color zoned tabular crystals |
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Viewed: |
13881 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Fluorapatite, Quartz, Muscovite, Arsenopyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 8 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13879 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Dec 01, 2021 14:33 Post subject: Another Cassiterite - Silvia's Collection |
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Lustrous slightly translucent crystals of Cassiterite to 10 mm on a matrix composed of Muscovite, Pyrite, Marcasite and Quartz.
Mineral: | Cassiterite, Muscovite, Pyrite, Marcasite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13726 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Muscovite, Pyrite, Marcasite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
The rear can often tell us a lot about the crystals on the other side. |
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Viewed: |
13714 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Muscovite, Pyrite, Marcasite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13735 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite, Muscovite, Pyrite, Marcasite, Quartz |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 7 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13737 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Dec 04, 2021 14:48 Post subject: Siderite - Silvia's Collection |
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Crystals of Siderite to 3 cm in size across the top of a matrix composed of Arsenopyrite and Pyrite. Minor Arsenopyrite and pyrite present.
Mineral: | Siderite, Arsenopyrite, Pyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 8 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13537 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Siderite, Arsenopyrite, Pyrite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 8 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13536 Time(s) |
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silvia
Joined: 10 Oct 2021
Posts: 253
Location: UK
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Posted: Dec 07, 2021 14:50 Post subject: Marcasite - Silvia's Collection |
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Golden crystals of Marcasite to 2 cm in size in a cluster with crystallized Muscovite, Quartz, Arsenopyrite, and Dolomite.
Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Quartz, Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13386 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Quartz, Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13405 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13403 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Marcasite, Arsenopyrite, Dolomite, Muscovite |
Locality: | Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro, Portugal | |
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Dimensions: | 10 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
13390 Time(s) |
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