FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Montanpark]

Hi all,
this specimen is in my collection for about 15 years now. I purchased it from a former colleague at Aachen University who had a "Finca" in Asturias and always brought some specimens home from vacation. Mostly he had Berbes or Solis specimens, but also Reocin and Mina Aliva samples were in the boxes. This baryte was unique of its size - 2 or three smaller specimens were in the lot - and i was interested because it seemed to be new (at least for me). He told me that this one came from Troya Mine, Mutiloa, Guipúzcoa, Spain.

I had no reason to doubt this and bought the baryte. Meanwhile i saw lots of spanish barytes and have a few in my collection, mostly from La Union area. And to me it seemed very similar to specimens from San Camilo etc.

Checking mindat did not bring me further as there are no pictures of baryte from Troya mine posted. So if anyone may know these barytes from Troya - would appreciate any suggestions.

Few details: crystals are cream white, on sulfide matrix mainly consisting of fine grained blackish sphalerite with pyrite/marcasite, on the back the baryte has a slight purplish tint in some portions like to be coloured by secondary cobalt minerals, but not very distinct (not water soluble so pink toilet paper as used somtimes in Romaniato dye specimens is unlikely ;-) ).

Size is 16 x 10 x 7.5 cm.

Any help appreciated.

Jordi, if you read this .. you may remember that we mailed about this specimen some months ago .. maybe you could also put it into the spanish section - thanks.

Cheers
Roger

[Jordi Fabre]

You don't need to post it in the Spanish Forum, it is from the Troya Mine, not doubts. You can't see images of them on line because them appeared before Internet times, just a few, and during a short time. Now the mine is collapsed and flooded, so not to chances to find others, only the old specimens remain.

Jordi

[Montanpark]

Jordi,
many thanks for this confirmation. Now i am even more glad that i kept this specimen over the years.

Thanks again,
cheers
Roger