Joan R.
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona
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 Posted: Dec 20, 2007 11:26 Post subject: Fluorite from Moscona Mine |
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Fluorite from Moscona Mine, Arlós-Villabona District (Asturias, Spain)
During many years a lot of honey yellow Fluorites and related Calcite, Baryte and Dolomite, came to the market labeled as "Villabona". Most of this material came from Moscona Mine, located on the Arlós-Villabona district. Although the mine was extremely productive on the past, actually is not supplying specimens. This is a short note to introduce this very popular mining area.
The Arlós-Villabona district is located about 20 km west of La Collada, halfway between the coast and the capital city of Oviedo in Asturias. The Moscona mine is located 1 km (0,62 miles) from the village of Solís that is in Llanera council. This mine is one of the three fluorspar deposits operated by MINERSA Co. (Minerales y Productos Derivados S.A.).
Moscona mine is situated at a depth of 300 to 400 m below the ground and exploted in three different levels. Fluorspar mineralization locates in the roof of Muschelkalk with a total thickness between 3 and 4 meters.
Fluorite from Moscona Mine occurs as groups of unmodified cubic crystals with smooth, brilliant, well-formed faces, high transparency and colors from pale yellow, yellow to tanned honey. Some crystals are zoned parallel to the cub faces, a feature particulary noticeable under LWUV: the surface zones appears pale yellow and cores violet.
Upper these Fluorite occurs diferent secondary minerals like Calcite in a variety of habits: low-flat rhomboedron, sometimes modified by dytrigonal prism, scalenoedral phantoms inside rhomboedral/prismatic which could reach 10 cm (usual is 1 to 6 cm).
It has been found excellent white (common) to pink (rare) color Dolomite crystals in so called saddle-shaped, commonly lining vugs and fissures, forming the substrate for the later growth of Baryte and Calcite crystals.
Baryte occurs as laminar to tabular crystals having well-formed faces. The color of Arlós-Villabona Baryte ranges from translucent milky white (most common) to gray-blue and pale sky blue, also yellowish to golden yellow. Most uncommon are the pearly pink Baryte crystals coating cubic yellow Fluorite.
Some Fluorite specimens are peppered or totally covered by Pyrite microcrystals, sometime like an iridiscent patina.
You could find more information:
- CURTO, C. & FABRE, J. (1992) Fluorite and associated minerals from Asturias, Spain. Mineralogical Record, 23, 69-76.
- https://www.minersa.es (2007, 20th Dec.)
We will be very happy to answer any question related with this topic so we are familiar with the mine and mining area.
ENJOY THEM!!!!!
All photos from Fabre Minerals:
https://www.fabreminerals.com/specimens/RSSFL-spanish-fluorite-notable-specimens.php#VC66G8
https://www.fabreminerals.com/specimens/RSES-spain-notable-specimens.php#VL86H9
| Description: |
A group of cubic crystals of yellow honey color, very bright and transparent, skirted by bluish tabular crystals of Baryte and covered by little scalenohedra of Calcite.
Moscona Mine |
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| Viewed: |
15249 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
| The base is a crystal of Calcite, a doubly terminated and twinned scalenohedron. A second generation of Calcite forming parallel groups of very bright crystals and with more complex forms has grown on it. The sample is crowned by a group of cubic crystals |
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| Viewed: |
15211 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
On a base of cubic Fluorite of honey yellow color, very bright and partially covered by little crystals of Baryte, grows the Calcite crystals, doubly terminated and with dominant very acute scalenohedron faces.
Moscona Mine |
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| Viewed: |
15196 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
The cubic crystals present geometrical zones of color, some of which have inner oriented inclusions of sulfides, probably Pyrite. A border of white crystals of Calcite partially skirts the specimen.
Moscona Mine |
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| Viewed: |
15226 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Group of cubic crystals very bright, with inner zones of color. With small laminar crystals of blue Baryte on the back.
Moscona Mine |
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| Viewed: |
15192 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Group of tabular crystals of bluish Baryte on a base of cubic crystals of Fluorite deeply colored in honey yellow.
Moscona Mine |
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| Viewed: |
15246 Time(s) |
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_________________
Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Carles Curto
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 160
Location: Barcelona
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| Posted: Dec 23, 2007 06:44 Post subject: Re: Fluorite from Moscona Mine |
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Some more essential (modern) bibliography about Solís Fluorite (and other minerals)
Grupo Mineralogista de Madrid (editor). 1994r. Mina Moscona. La barita azul. Bocamina. 0: 10.
Augsten, R. 2003. Die Kupferlagerstätten in Asturien, Spanien. Lapis Mineralien Magazin. 28( 9): 31- 37.
García García, G., Cuesta, J.M. 1998. Yacimientos de Fluorita de Asturias. Notas historicas sobre el espato flúor en Asturias. Bocamina. 3: 64-80.
García García, G., Calvo. M. 1998. Yacimientos de Fluorita de Asturias. Mineralogía de los yacimientos de fluorita asturiana. Bocamina. 3: 34-59.
García García, G. 1993a. Mina Moscona, Solís (Asturias). Azogue. 4(13): 8-13.
Curto, C., Fabre, J. 1992. Fluorite and associated minerals from Asturias, Spain. The Mineralogical Record. 23( 1): 69-76.
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