FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Peter Megaw]

I was in Chihuahua recently and acquired a few nice new things.

The flashiest is unquestionably brilliant orange wulfenite crystals up to 1.5 cm on a matrix of gumball purple fluorite. These come from somewhere in the upper levels of the San Antonio Mine in the East Camp. The wulfenite is relict primary material that survived oxidation and leaching. Unfortunately, I was only able to get a half a flat of this pretty material.

The Velardeña Mine in the West Camp of Santa Eulalia (actually part of the unified workiings of the Buena Tierra Mine and not to be confused with the Velardeña Mine in Durango) has recently produced a fair number of descloizite (probable) specimens. These come from the Americas Stope on the 17th Level, an area well known for producing wormy stalactites of descloizite many years ago. There are two "styles" of the new desccloizites. The one pictured is compopsed of 3 mm scaly crystals forming undulating surfaces. The to be pictured later is a thin coating of orange descloizite on fibrous hemimorphite coating gossan.

At least 12 flats of the first material came out and I understand most has gone to Europe...look for it at St. Marie? The second material came out is smaller numbers, but MUCH bigger sizes. i saw at least 10 pieces 20+ cm across.

[Jean Sendero]

Peter,

to add a little on the descloizite, these are for sure, not probable anymore. I had four of them analyzed at the U of A with Raman. They all came back as descloizite.
Some color variations are noted as well, brown, the one that you photographed and yellow and green photographed below. The green one returned a mixture of descloizite and vanadinite....

Cheers

Jean

[Peter Megaw]

I got a green one like this just to see if it was still descloizite...nice to know its a mixture

[Jean Sendero]

Yep,
it was a surprise for me.

Cheers

Jean

[Jean Sendero]

Oh! I keep forgetting, smoking color contrast of the wulfenite on the gumball fluorite.

J

[javmex2]

These days have left some parts Descloizite.

[Peter Megaw]

The Main Silicate Orebody that lies between the 8th and 11th Levels of the Potosi Mine is back in production through an agreement between Grupo Mexico, owners of the Buena Tierra Mine and MINAMEX, owners of the Potosi.

This orebody is famous for producing rhodochrosite...some of the world's best in fact...plus a wide range of unusual to rare microminerals including natanite, jeanbandyite and wickmanite...and some wonderfully complexly modified fluorite.

After lying dormant for over 20 years the miners are at work and things are emerging. I have recently acquired three lots of good to excellent material, with a healthy sprinkling of rarities among some very attractive rhodochrosites.

Specimens and photographs: Peter Megaw

[Mark Ost]

Merry Christmas Indeed! Superb specimens.

[Charlotte]

Peter- Very nice additions to the already beautiful and diverse Santa Eulalia Rhodochrosites. The "fairy ring" and 1.5 cm gemmy crystal are wonderful. And the crystal itself appears to be a modified rhomb which is unusual in itself. Thanks for the update!
Bill

[Tobi]

Wonderful rhodochrosites, Peter - please more :-)

[Don Lum]

I agree with Mark, Bill and Tobi.